title: HCV infection complicated with nephrotic syndrome, immune complex crescentic glomerulonephritis and acute renal failure: a case report.
abstract: There is ample evidence suggesting that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated autoimmunity plays a role in a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases, which are usually overlooked. We report on a case of nephrotic syndrome, palpable purpura, cryoglobulinemia, hypocomplementemia, and acute renal failure complicated by immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN). The patient is a 64-year-old man with HCV infection, who was initially considered to present only an HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic GN. However, renal biopsy revealed a "full house" immune complex crescentic GN, which led to our subsequent investigation. The attending clinicians faced what is a common dilemma, where an HCV-associated autoimmune disease inevitably switches to a lupus-like GN. Hence, we also discuss treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Chun-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mei-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Hung-Chun
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yung-Hsiung
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Shang-Jyh
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G