title: Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus-positive cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The most frequent form of renal involvement in patients with hepatitis C infection is cryoglobulinemic membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis. Nonetheless, some reports indicate that the eradication of the hepatitis C virus may also lead to the remission of this renal disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  The virological, immunological and nephrological response to pegylated interferon α plus ribavirin (48 weeks in patients infected with genotype 1, and 24 weeks for patients infected with genotypes 2 and 3) was evaluated retrospectively in 10 patients with cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  6 patients obtained end of treatment virological response (60%); during follow-up, 2 relapsed, and 4 patients maintained a sustained virological response (40%). At the end of follow-up, three patients obtained a significant nephrological response and decrease in cryoglobulin levels (p<0.05). No significant changes in clinical and biological parameters were observed in non-responders/relapsers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eradication of hepatitis C may be associated with the regression of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Haematology CRO, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Pordenone General Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Panarello
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pordenone General Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
authors.forename: Endri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology-Haematology CRO, IRCCS, Aviano, Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gattei
authors.affiliation: Clinical Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy. Electronic address: g.pozzato@fmc.units.it.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: HCV-genotype; Hepatitis C virus; Membrano-proliferative glomerulo-nephritis