Steroids, interferon-alpha and ribavirin treatment of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis concurrent with HCV infection
Guarnieri, A.; Marazzi, F.; Giorgi, M.P.; Canepari, G.; Pino, C.; Moggia, E.; Manca, A.; Ghezzi, P.M.
Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana di Nefrologia 19(1): 79-81
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5590 PMID: 12165950 Document Number: 546059
The treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia concurrent with HCV infection is still under debate. We report the case of a patient referred to our unit for a membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis associated with HCV infection. A nephrotic syndrome and a slight reduction of glomerular filtration rate were present. We treated him with alpha-interferon for six months and prednisone for two months. We achieved a remission of the nephrotic syndrome without any significant reduction of the viral load. One year after the therapy had been suspended, the nephrotic syndrome relapsed and subsequently responded to a combined treatment with interferon ribavirin and prednisone. HCV-RNA became suddenly and persistently negative.