Treatment of Hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis with alpha interferon in 7 year old boy.

Background: The association between Hepatitis B virus infection and membran ous nephropathy has been confirmed by sources in several countries. Most co mmonly, the illness is seen as a nephrotic syndrome. Optimal treatment rema ins undefined. Antiviral therapies observed with recombinant human interfer on alpha may be the best treatment option. Case report: We present a 7-year old boy with membranous glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Twelve months after the initial hospitalization th erapy was started with recombinant alpha-interferon s.c. three times weekly for six months. After the therapy the patient is stable, without proteinur ia, edema or renal failure. He was seronegative for HBsAg, HBV-DNA and anti body to HBeAg. Conclusions: This case report suggests that alpha interferon is effective i n the complete resolution of proteinuria in HBV membranous nephropathy.