Role of interferon-alpha in the treatment of primary glomerulonephritis.
Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is a naturally occurring cytokine. It was the first cytokine used with clinical benefit in the treatment of viral hepatitis and malignancies. Patients with viral hepatitis B or C may have complications with glomerulonephritis (GN). Improvement in proteinuria with or without clearing of viral markers after IFN-alpha therapy has been reported. This encouraged us to offer IFN-alpha therapy to four patients with GN. These patients refused treatment with steroids and/or cyclophosphamide because of concerns about side effects. One patient with membranous GN and two patients with mesangial GN (MesGN) had a remission of nephrotic syndrome. In one patient with type II diabetes and MesGN, renal insufficiency and proteinuria did not subside; however, renal function remained stable. The mechanism of action of IFN-alpha is discussed, with its possible role in the treatment of primary GN.
Al-Wakeel
J
J
Division of Nephrology, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. alwakeel@ksu.edu.sa
Mitwalli
A
A
Tarif
N
N
Al-Mohaya
S
S
Malik
G
G
Khalil
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000628:therapy*; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D016898:Interferon-alpha