alpha-Interferon therapy for HBV-related glomerulonephritis.
We report a case of a patient with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) who showed improvement after interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. A 35-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome and HBV antigens received a 24-week course of IFN-alpha. At the end of therapy there was an elevation in the level of plasma aminotransferase and an increase in proteinuria, which were followed by antigen/antibody seroconversion. This "flare-up" before seroconversion suggests an increase in disease activity in the liver and kidney, demonstrating in vivo HBV involvement in MGN.
Lopes Neto
E P
EP
lucia@gastro.epm.br
Lopes
L V
LV
Kirsztajn
G M
GM
Cruz
C N
CN
Ferraz
M L
ML
Silva
A E
AE
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011507:Proteinuria; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase