Effectiveness of treatment of cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis with rituximab and plasmapheresis after obtaining a sustained response to interferon-free antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C
Abstract
Contemporary treatment of chronic hepatitis C lasts long, it is difficult and very expensive. Introduction of new antiviral drugs has significantly improved outcomes of the therapy, including patients with deteriorated kidney function. A part of the individuals with HCV infection may develop glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Mixed cryoglobulinemia type II, which is found in almost half of the patients with hepatitis C, can be an independent factor leading to kidney injury. We present the case of 39 years old female, who developed nephrotic syndrome and kidney failure in the course of cryoglobulinemic glomerulopathy, after completing antiviral interferon-free therapy. There was introduced associated treatment of steroids, rituximab and plasma exchange, which appeared to be successful.
Keywords: membranoproliferative glomerulonephritiscryoglobulinrituximabplasmapheresisinterferon-free therapyHCV infection