Structural changes of the kidney in schistosomal hepatic fibrosis with and without ascites

ABSTRACT

Renal biopsy specimens were taken from 32 patients with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis, 22 with resistant ascites, 5 with reversible ascites and 5 non- ascitic patients. Histopathological examination in patients with resistant ascites revealed glomerular changes which varied from minimal lesions of early glomerulonephritis to glomerulosclerosis and hyalinization with mesangial widening, capillary wall thickening and hypercellularity. Histopathological examination in patients with reversible ascites revealed a uniform pattern of mild glomerulonephritic changes. In the non-ascitic patients, histopathological examination revealed a normal pattern of renal structure