IMMUNOFLUORESCENT LOCALIZATION OF COXSACKIEVIRUS B ANTIGEN IN KIDNEY OBSERVED AT ROUTINE AUTOPSY

Results of examination of fresh renal tissue, collected during routine autopsies on 104 patients at the Charity Hospital, for coxsackievirus B infection by the immunofluorescent antibody technic are reported. Eleven of these patients had a positive immunofluorescent reaction for coxsackievirus B antigen in the kidney. The specimens were screened by the direct immunofluorescent antibody method and staining specificity was confirmed by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody method. A positive reaction for viral antigen showed intracytoplasmic localization of bright fluorescence in the affected glomeruli, tubules and/or interstitial tissue. Histologic studies of the eleven positive cases revealed five patients with acute or chronic pyelonephritis with nephrosclerosis and two patients with chronic pyelonephritis and glomerulosclerosis. One patient had acute glomerulonephritis with chronic pyelonephritis and nephrosclerosis. One patient had nephrosclerosis with calcinosis, one had nephrosclerosis only, and one had pyelonephritis only. Ten of the eleven patients with a positive reaction for viral antigen in the kidney were over the age of forty-five years. This study suggests a possible role of the coxsackievirus as a cause of renal diseases. The relationship of viral infections to renal disease is discussed. © 1969.