Hansen's Disease and Nephropathy As Its Sequence.

Visceral leprosy

“…Although renal insufficiency, usually due to secondary amyloidosis, has been reported as a cause of death in leprosy patients, 12,62–65 M. leprae rarely involves the renal parenchyma 1–3,30 . 62,63 , 66–70 Renal injury seems to be common in patients with erythema nodosum leprosum.…”

“…The presence of mycobacteriuria is inconstant, with some studies noting AFB in advanced cases, while others finding no M. leprae in active patients 63,84 . Interstitial nephritis is commonly reported, 5,12 , 69,70 with one study observing its presence in 71% of patients. 5 Pyelonephritis is also common 5,62 , 69,70 and has been attributed to irregularly scarred and contracted kidneys.…”

“…Multiple reports of specific internal organ involvement by Mycobacterium leprae are found scattered in the literature, including autopsy reports. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 This review is not intended to be an exhaustive dissertation on visceral leprosy, but rather a starting point from which the clinician can gain general knowledge, and initiate a search for more comprehensive information on the particular organ of interest.…”