Food allergy masquerading as persistent proteinuria in post-infectious glomerulonephritis: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Post-infectious glomerulonephritis (PIGN) is one of the most common causes of pediatric acute glomerulonephritis. Immune system dysregulation manifesting as food allergy may predispose PIGN patients to nephrotic-range proteinuria.

CASE PRESENTATION: The patient was a 3-year-old male that presented with edema, gross hematuria and reduced urine output following a mild fever, rhinorrhea and lethargy. Due to the persistence of proteinuria and hematuria, he underwent a kidney biopsy. The patient was diagnosed with atypical PIGN and was placed on oral prednisolone. During treatment, a relationship between the consumption of dairy products and the degree of proteinuria was noted. The clinical manifestations and urinalysis indices improved upon steroid discontinuation and initiation of a hypoallergic diet.

CONCLUSION

The association between the degree of proteinuria and consumption of dairy products in this PIGN patient led to the identification of food allergy as an underlying factor for nephrotic-range proteinuria.