Therapy with interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis induced by hepatitis C virus
| Autor: | Lopes,Edmundo P.A., Valente,Lucila M., Silva,A. Eduardo B., Kirsztajn,Gianna Mastroianni, Cruz,Cibele N., Ferraz,Maria Lucia G |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2003 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume: 7, Issue: 5, Pages: 353-357, Published: OCT 2003 Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases v.7 n.5 2003 Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (BSID) instacron:BSID |
| Popis: | We describe a treatment made with interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) plus ribavirin of two patients with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV): Case 1 was a 22-year-old woman with leg and facial edema, hypertension and proteinuria, whose liver biopsy revealed chronic active hepatitis; and Case 2 was a 42-year-old man with anasarca, hypertension and proteinuria, whose liver biopsy indicated cirrhosis. Both had anti-HCV, HCV-RNA and cryoglobulins. IFN-alpha (3 million units (MU), 3 times/week) and ribavirin (1 g/day) were administered for 12 months. The drugs were well tolerated by both patients. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels normalized and HCV-RNA became negative. Cryoglobulins disappeared and an improvement in renal disease was seen after 6 months of therapy. However, after 9 months, Case 2 presented ALT elevation, and proteinuria was detected. Two years after the end of therapy, both patients were negative in repeated HCV-RNA and cryoglobulin tests. Case 1 was asymptomatic, with normal liver and renal tests, and Case 2 had normal blood pressure, with mild edema of the ankles. Based on the evolution of these two cases, the association of IFN-alpha and ribavirin may be a therapeutic option for patients with MPGN related to HCV. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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