Efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin for the treatment of hepatitis C virus-positive cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis

BackgroundThe 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.MethodsThe 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.Results6 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.ConclusionsEradication of hepatitis C may be associated with the regression of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.