Frequency of intraendothelial `virus-like' particles: An electron microscopy study of 376 human renal biopsies

Abstract

SYNOPSis Intraendothelial 'virus-like' particles were found in all cases requiring a renal biopsy: in 89 % of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in 73 % of those receiving renal transplants more than one year before, and in 24' 5 % of all other renal biopsies.The exact nature of the intraendothelial 'virus-like' inclusions detected in the renal biopsies of patients with SLE and their degree of specificity remain highly controversial. In the present paper we hope to provide further insight into the relationship between the prevalence and the occurrence of such particles and the various conditions for which the renal biopsies were performed.

Membranous Nephropathy Associated with Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis: Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

“…However, since in chronic thyroiditis autoimmune processes also should be considered, further evaluations are clearly re quired to determine whether these associations are immunopathologically significant or not. Although microtubular structures found in case 2 are reported by Schultz et al [10], these structures are not specific morphologic features of SL E [25] and also do not have any pathologic significance.…”

Renal Involvement in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

“…a vari ety of histopathology exists in the renal involvement in MCTD. In contrast to a high incidence of microtubular lesion (89%) in the endothelial cytoplasm of SLE [2], this structure is found in only 4 of 42 MCTD patients (9.5%) reported in the literature. However, we have found this in 4 out of 5 cases, which may indicate that meticulous observation may increase the association of this lesion with MCTD.…”

Comparison and Analysis of Different Methods for Purification of Autoimmune Antibody Reactive with Single Stranded DNA: A Pilot Study

“…The most important pathological finding in nephritogenic lupus is the presence of immune deposits beneath the glomerular endothelium in kidney biopsies and virus-like particles in endothelial cells. 48 The presence of virus-like particles in different organs in patients with lupus indicate that the anti-DNA antibodies could be a part of the body's viral or bacterial defense mechanism involved in the removal of foreign DNA during the course of the disease. 49 In summary, we could conclude that the reason for different structural patterns of anti-ssDNA autoantibodies in SLE could be the product of genetic and epigenetic phenomena.…”