Ribavirin monotherapy for hepatitis C virus-associated membranous nephropathy.
Glomerular diseases associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are increasingly being recognized. Antiviral therapy with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and ribavirin eradicate viral activity in a significant proportion of patients with chronic active hepatitis, often with amelioration of extrahepatic manifestations, including glomerular pathology. Unfortunately, adverse effects often preclude the use of IFN-alpha. We describe a patient with refractory nephrotic syndrome secondary to HCV-associated membranous nephropathy who sustained a complete remission following the initiation of ribavirin monotherapy. The existing literature on the association between these two disorders and therapy with ribavirin is reviewed.
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Division of Renal Diseases, Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. shu@lifespan.org
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D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin