"Can Hepatitis B Lead to Kidney Disease?"

Hepatitis B

Fully named as viral hepatitis B, it is a viral hepatitis caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It can lead to liver damage and inflammatory lesions but usually does not cause kidney disease. Common reasons for hepatitis B patients to develop kidney diseases include the following:

1. Immune Tolerance

HBV replicates primarily through immune response. Infected hepatocytes are activated, generating a large number of immune cells to eliminate the virus, which can result in hepatocyte necrosis. In cases of immune tolerance, immune cells fail to clear the virus and instead attack it, potentially leading to kidney disease.

2. Immune Deficiency

HBV infection can cause liver damage, manifesting as symptoms such as fatigue, decreased appetite, upper right abdominal discomfort, and jaundice. It also reduces overall body resistance, making individuals susceptible to other illnesses like colds, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Long-term HBV presence in the body may contribute to kidney disease.

3. Kidney Diseases

HBV spreads primarily through blood and can cause kidney diseases like polycystic kidney disease and nephritis. Polycystic kidney disease has an uncertain pathogenesis but may be linked to genetics and metabolism, commonly affecting males and presenting with symptoms like hematuria, proteinuria, and renal pain. Nephritis's pathogenesis is also unclear, potentially associated with infection, medications, and genetics, manifesting as proteinuria, hematuria, and edema.

4. Other Causes

HBV can also cause neurological disorders such as spinal cord lesions and Guillain-Barre syndrome, as well as severe infections like sepsis. It can also lead to lung diseases like pneumonia. Although theoretically possible, pure hepatitis B generally does not cause kidney disease. Suspected HBV infections can be confirmed through tests for hepatitis B virus antibodies and nucleic acids.