title: Therapy with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis induced by hepatitis C virus.
abstract: We describe a treatment made with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin of two patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV): case # 1 was a 22-yr-old woman with leg and facial edema, hypertension and proteinuria, whose liver biopsy revealed chronic active hepatitis; and case # 2 was a 42-yr-old man with anasarca, hypertension and proteinuria, whose liver biopsy indicated cirrhosis. Both had anti-HCV, HCV-RNA and cryoglobulins. IFN-alpha (3 million units (MU), 3 times/week) and ribavirin (1 g/day) were administered for 12 months. The drugs were well tolerated by both patients. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels normalized and HCV-RNA became negative. Cryoglobulins disappeared and an improvement in renal disease was seen after 6 months of therapy. However, after 9 months, case # 2 presented ALT elevation, and proteinuria was detected. Two years after the end of therapy, both patients were negative in repeated HCV-RNA and cryoglobulin tests. Case # 1 was asymptomatic, with normal liver and renal tests, and case # 2 had normal blood pressure, with mild edema of the ankles. Based on the evolution of these two cases, the association of IFN-alpha and ribavirin may be a therapeutic option for patients with MPGN related to HCV.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Gastroenterology and Nephrology, Department of Medicine, São Paulo Medical School, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. epalopes@ufpe.br
authors.forename: Edmundo P A
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Lucila M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: A Eduardo B
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Gianna Mastroianni
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kirsztajn
authors.forename: Cibele N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Maria Lucia G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin