Nephrotic syndrome after liver transplantation in a patient with hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis

Transplantation. 1997 Oct 15;64(7):1073-6. doi: 10.1097/00007890-199710150-00022.

Abstract

In recent years, hepatitis C virus infection has been reported to be typically associated with membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and less frequently with membranous nephropathy. Treatment of hepatitis C with interferon-alpha can reduce viremia and improve renal disease. After liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus-associated liver failure, standard immunosuppressive protocols result in a significant increase in hepatitis C viremia. In this report we describe a patient with end-stage liver disease and biopsy-proven hepatitis C-associated glomerulonephritis who underwent liver transplantation. Within 1 month after transplantation, he developed a severe nephrotic syndrome that paralleled a marked increase in viremia. We discuss the possible pathogenic relationship between hepatitis C virus infection and the nephrotic syndrome that followed liver transplantation.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Enalapril / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis / complications*
  • Glomerulonephritis / virology
  • Hepacivirus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / surgery
  • Hepatitis C / therapy
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Liver Transplantation* / physiology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephrotic Syndrome / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Proteinuria
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Reoperation
  • Time Factors
  • Viremia / complications*

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • RNA, Viral
  • Enalapril
  • Creatinine