alpha-Interferon therapy for HBV-related glomerulonephritis

Sao Paulo Med J. 1998 Sep-Oct;116(5):1823-5. doi: 10.1590/s1516-31801998000500008.

Abstract

We report a case of a patient with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) who showed improvement after interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. A 35-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome and HBV antigens received a 24-week course of IFN-alpha. At the end of therapy there was an elevation in the level of plasma aminotransferase and an increase in proteinuria, which were followed by antigen/antibody seroconversion. This "flare-up" before seroconversion suggests an increase in disease activity in the liver and kidney, demonstrating in vivo HBV involvement in MGN.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / complications*
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis B / complications*
  • Hepatitis B / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Proteinuria
  • Serum Albumin / analysis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Serum Albumin
  • Alanine Transaminase