DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS CORE PROTEIN IN THE GLOMERULI OF PATIENTS WITH MEMBRANOUS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Two Japanese patients suffered from membranous glomerulonephritis asso ciated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Renal histologic change s were characterized by granular deposits of IgG and C3 along the capi llary wall and numerous subepithelial deposits in glomeruli. Hypocompl ementemia was present in one patient, but both cryoglobulins and rheum atoid factors were absent. HCV RNA was detected in both their sera by RT-PCR, both free and in the form of circulating immune complexes. The HCV core protein was found in the glomeruli from both patients by ind irect immunofluorescence. These results suggest that in some patients chronic HCV infection causes membranous glomerulonephritis through imm une complex deposition involving HCV proteins.