Among the several types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) described in association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis is by far the most frequent. It is usually associated with type II cryoglobulinemia with IgM k rheumatoid factor. It is a membranoproliferative GN, which shows some distinctive histologic features (intraglomerular monocyte infiltration, intraluminal thrombi due to massive precipitation of cryoglobulins, renal vasculitis), has a chronic course with acute recurrent episodes that can be controlled by corticosteroids more than by antiviral therapy (interferon alpha). More controversial is the association with type I non-cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative GN, which has been found in some series from the USA and Japan but not in others. The demonstration of HCV antibodies and/or HCV-RNA in other types of chronic glomerulonephritis is usually reported in a small minority of cases suggesting the possibility of a coincidental finding more than an etiologic factor
Sinico, R., Fornasieri, A., D'Amico, G. (2000). Renal manifestations associated with hepatitis C virus. ANNALES DE MEDECINE INTERNE, 151(1), 41-45.
Renal manifestations associated with hepatitis C virus
SINICO, RENATO ALBERTOPrimo
;
2000
Abstract
Among the several types of chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) described in association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis is by far the most frequent. It is usually associated with type II cryoglobulinemia with IgM k rheumatoid factor. It is a membranoproliferative GN, which shows some distinctive histologic features (intraglomerular monocyte infiltration, intraluminal thrombi due to massive precipitation of cryoglobulins, renal vasculitis), has a chronic course with acute recurrent episodes that can be controlled by corticosteroids more than by antiviral therapy (interferon alpha). More controversial is the association with type I non-cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative GN, which has been found in some series from the USA and Japan but not in others. The demonstration of HCV antibodies and/or HCV-RNA in other types of chronic glomerulonephritis is usually reported in a small minority of cases suggesting the possibility of a coincidental finding more than an etiologic factorI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.