Glomerulonephritis organic solvents

Of 63 adults with advanced renal insufficiency, those with biopsy-proven primary proliferative glomerulonephritis and those whose clinical presentation was consistent with glomerulonephritis had significantly greater exposure to organic solvents than patients with a variety of other renal diseases (37). 

In a case-control study of 50 patients with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis and 100 sex- and age-matched controls (50 patients each with non-glomerular renal disease or acute appendicitis), half of the patients with glomerulonephritis reported more than slight exposure to organic solvents compared with 20% of the controls (38). 

Ravnskov U, Forsberg B, Skerfving S. Glomerulonephritis and exposure to organic solvents. A case-control study. Acta Med Scand 1979 205(7) 575-9. 

As can be appreciated, solvents possess a wide variety of chemical and physical properties. Because of this diversity there are many different health effects associated with excessive exposure to solvents. While acute renal failure has been documented following exposure to halogenated hydrocarbons [2], glycols [3] and aromatic hydrocarbons, those attributed to light petroleum hydrocarbon exposure are restricted to isolated clinical case reports [4]. More important, but less well proven, is the role of organic solvents in the development or progression of glomerulonephritis or other types of renal diseases. 

The major pathologic presentation of solvent associated nephropathy is that of anti-glomerular basement membrane disease [39] but epimembraneous and subacute proliferative glomerulonephritis have also been demonstrated. In addition, Narvarte et al. [40] reported on a patient with ulcerative colitis in which chronic interstitial nephritis developed that later was attributed to long-term exposure to organic solvents. 

MuttI A, Lucertinl S, Faizol M, Cavatorta A, Franchini I. Organic solvents and chronic glomerulonephritis a cross-sectional study with negative findings for aliphatic and alicyclic C5-C7 hydrocarbons. J AppI Toxicol 1981 1(4) 224-226. 

Ravnskov U. Exposure to organic solvents-a missing link in poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis Acta Med Scand 1978 203 ... 

Van der Laan G. Chronic glomerulonephritis and organic solvents a case control study. Int ArchOccup Environ Health 1980 47 1-8. 

Bell GM, Gordon ACH, Lee P, Doig A, MacDonald MK, Thomson D, Anderton JL, Robson JS. Proliferative glomerulonephritis and exposure to organic solvents. Nephron 1985 40 161-165. 

Several case-control studies have examined the role of organic solvent exposure in a population of patients with glomerulonephritis. A total of 14 case control studies examining human exposure to solvents and glomerulonephritis have been conducted and are documented... 

Table 20.4.2. Glomerulonephritis and organic solvents Case-control studies summarized. [Data from reference number 30]...

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