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  • Long term suppressive therapy with pegylated interferon for chronic hepatitis C associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

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LETTER
Long term suppressive therapy with pegylated interferon for chronic hepatitis C associated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis
  1. I H Y Cua1,
  2. V Kwan1,
  3. M Henriquez1,
  4. J Kench2,
  5. J George3
  1. 1Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Millenium Institute, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  2. 2Department of Tissue Pathology, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  3. 3Storr Liver Unit, Westmead Millenium Institute, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Sydney at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor J George
    Department of Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; jacob_george{at}wmi.usyd.edu.au

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/gut.2006.094508

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    Renal disease secondary to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is infrequent but often life threatening and difficult to treat. Management is directed towards eradication of the virus. Combination therapy with interferon α or pegylated interferon α and ribavirin has been used successfully to induce recovery from membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), cryoglobulinaemia, and vasculitis, if viral clearance is achieved.1–,8 Unfortunately, symptoms recur in the absence of a sustained virological response. Long term suppressive maintenance therapy may be an alternative, but has not been reported previously.

    History

    A 46 year old man with HCV genotype 4 was referred to our institution for evaluation of chronic HCV infection (CHC) and nephrotic syndrome. Initial investigations revealed proteinuria (+++) and haematuria (+++) with dysmorphic red cells on urinalysis. Haemoglobin level (Hb) was 136 g/l, …

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    Footnotes

    • Conflict of interest: None declared.