Glomerular injury, occurring either as primary glomerular disease or as part of a systemic disease process, is usually a result
of immune-mediated mechanisms. The morphologic reaction pattern has a diverse spectrum of appearance, ranging from normal
by light microscopy in minimal change disease to crescentic forms of glomerulonephritis, with conspicuous disruption of the
normal glomerular morphology. The mechanisms of glomerular immune deposit formation include trapping of circulating antigen–antibody
complexes and the in situ formation of immune complexes within the glomerulus. While the majority of postinfectious immune-complex-mediated
glomerulonephritides are believed to result from the deposition of circulating antigen–antibody complexes, preformed outside
of the kidney and secondarily deposited in the kidney, the notion of forming in situ antigen–antibody complexes to either
planted antigens or to integral structural components of the glomerulus, through “cross-reacting” autoimmune reactions, is
gaining popularity in a variety of forms of glomerulonephritides. Patients with HIV infection may develop a spectrum of renal
pathology, the glomerular manifestations of which include both antigen–antibody complex and nonimmune-complex-mediated pathogenetic
mechanisms. Similarly, patients with Streptococcal infections, Hepatitis B virus, or Hepatitis C virus infection may develop
a spectrum of glomerulonephritides, which are predominantly immune-complex-mediated. Therapy for glomerular diseases due to
HIV, hepatitis B, or C virus infections remains a challenge.
Keywords Infections - Glomerulonephritis - Human immunodeficiency virus - Streptococcal - Hepatitis B virus - Hepatitis C virus