Open AccessHCV Infection Complicated with Nephrotic Syndrome, Immune Complex Crescentic Glomerulonephritis and Acute Renal Failure: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Chen YiChun,
Kuo MeiChuan,
Chen HungChun,
Lai YungHsiung,
Hwang ShangJyh
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/s1607-551x(09)70153-6
Subject(s) - medicine , cryoglobulinemia , nephrotic syndrome , glomerulonephritis , immunology , hepatitis c virus , renal biopsy , autoimmunity , rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis , systemic lupus erythematosus , immune system , disease , biopsy , pathology , gastroenterology , kidney , virus
There is ample evidence suggesting that hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐associated autoimmunity plays a role in a broad spectrum of autoimmune diseases, which are usually overlooked. We report on a case of nephrotic syndrome, palpable purpura, cryoglobulinemia, hypocomplementemia, and acute renal failure complicated by immune complex glomerulonephritis (GN). The patient is a 64‐year‐old man with HCV infection, who was initially considered to present only an HCV‐associated cryoglobulinemic GN. However, renal biopsy revealed a “full house” immune complex crescentic GN, which led to our subsequent investigation. The attending clinicians faced what is a common dilemma, where an HCV‐associated autoimmune disease inevitably switches to a lupus‐like GN. Hence, we also discuss treatment.