Discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy causing progression to end-stage renal disease in an HIV patient diagnosed with immune complex 'lupus-like' glomerulonephritis

Immune complex 'lupus-like glomerulonephritis' is a type of renal injury seen infrequently in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and very little is known about the clinical course and treatment. Treatment options are limited but antiretroviral therapy and steroids have been tried with limited success. We report a case of a 21-year-old HIV-positive African American male with lupus-like glomerulonephritis who progressed to end-stage renal disease upon discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. This case illustrates the importance of antiretroviral therapy as an important treatment modality for immune complex lupus-like glomerulonephritis in HIV patients.