Vol. 9, No 1, 2002 pp. 76 - 78
UC 616.61-004
HANTAVIRUS- SPECIFIC IgG AND IgM IN BALKAN
ENDEMIC NEPHROPATHY (BEN) AND CHRONIC RENAL DISEASE
G. Gluhovschi1, A. Rosca2,
F. Margineanu3
1Dept of Nephrology, University of
Medicine Timisoara, Romania
2Laboratory, County Hospital Timisoara,
Romania
3County Hospital, Turnu Severin, Romania
Summary. Forty eight serum samples from patients with BEN and 41
from patients with other chronic nephropathies were assayed for antibodies
to the Hanta virus (Hantaan and Puumala viruses) by Enzyme Immunoassay
(ELISA). Hanta virus (Hantaan and Puumala) IgG and IgM antibodies were
present in 18.8% of BEN patients, 8.3% cases positive and 10.4% cases with
borderline values.
A total of 4/41 cases (9,8%) of non BEN chronic nephropathies (chronic
pyelonephritis) had borderline values of antibodies for the Hantavirus.
No cases of 89 patients investigated by us had any sign of hantaviral infection:
hanta virus pulmonary syndrome or haemorrhagic fever renal syndrome. The
relationship with the etiology of BEN needs further investigation.
Key words: Balkan endemic nephropathy, Hanta virus, antibodies
