RESPONSE TO HIGH-DOSE INTERFERON-ALPHA AFTER FAILURE OF STANDARD THERAPY IN MPGN ASSOCIATED WITH HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

A 42-year-old man developed mixed cryoglobulinemia secondary to hepati tis C virus (HCV) infection with hypocomplementemia and nephrotic synd rome. His renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I (MPGN). Despite treatment with interferon-alpha, three million units three times a week for a total of 6 months, the patient continu ed to have hypocomplementemia, cryoglobulinemia, and nephrosis. After a course of high-dose interferon-alpha treatment consisting of ten mil lion units daily for 2 weeks followed by 10 million units three times per week for an additional 6 weeks, HCV RNA and cryoglobulin testing b ecame negative, complement levels increased to normal levels, and neph rotic syndrome remitted. This case confirms an association between HCV infection and MPGN and suggests a role for high-dose interferon-alpha treatment when conventional interferon therapy fails. (C) 1997 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.