title: Complete remission of nephrotic syndrome of hepatitis B virus-associated membranous glomerulopathy after lamivudine monotherapy.
abstract: We present the case of a 22-year-old male with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, who developed nephrotic syndrome and had complete remission after lamivudine monotherapy. Renal biopsy showed membranous glomerulopathy, and the serum titer of HBV DNA increased to 1,130,000 copies/mL. As symptomatic therapy with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors did not improve the nephrotic syndrome, lamivudine 100 mg per day was started. His alanine aminotransferase level normalized 2 months after treatment, then hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion developed and serum HBV DNA became undetectable. His proteinuria improved subsequently and his leg edema disappeared completely 6 months after treatment. Neither hepatitis nor nephrotic syndrome had relapsed by month 13 when he came for follow-up. This suggests that lamivudine monotherapy may induce and maintain complete remission of membranous glomerulopathy associated with hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tang-Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Chao-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Shun-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chuan-Mo
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019259:Lamivudine