Crescentic IgA nephropathy in a patient with hepatitis C virus infection and liver cirrhosis

We describe a 36 year old man who was admitted to the hospital with dyspnea , edema of the lower limbs, arterial hypertension and oliguric renal failur e. He had microhematuria and nephrotic range proteinuria, immunological tes ts were normal or negative. Renal biopsy revealed global (55%) or segmental glomeruloesclerosis, remaining glomeruli showed extracapillary proliferati on (25%). Immunofluorescence study disclosed IgA mesangial deposits. He was also diagnosed as having liver cirrhosis with positive serology against he patitis C virus. He was treated with dialysis, antihypertensive drugs and s teroids with improvement of the renal function. However, ten months later m aintenance hemodialysis became necessary. We emphasize two points: first IgA glomerulonephritis is rarely associated with hepatitis C infection, and second crescentic IgA nephropathy has been infrequently reported in liver cirrhosis.