Membranous nephropathy induced by pegylated interferon alpha-2a therapy for chronic viral hepatitis B.

Abstract

Interferon is used to treat chronic viral hepatitis because of low drug resistance and a high remission rate. However, its propensity to induce and modify autoimmunity has been reported. We used pegylated interferon α-2a to treat a patient with chronic viral hepatitis B. After 5 months of this therapy, the patient developed membranous nephropathy. Complete remission of his nephrotic syndrome was achieved after 1 year of cyclosporine and corticosteroid therapy. During this same period, his chronic viral hepatitis B was controlled by entecavir. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which membranous nephropathy developed during pegylated interferon α-2a therapy for chronic hepatitis B. The autoimmune modulation induced by interferon is the most likely mechanism for this complication.

• Authors: Ming-Shien Tsai, Jui-Hao Chen, Yu-Wei Fang, An-Hang Yang, Chung-Hsin Chang
• Journal: Clinical nephrology (Clin Nephrol) Vol. 77 Issue 6 Pg. 496-500 (Jun 2012) ISSN: 0301-0430 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 22595393 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Antiviral Agents
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Interferon-alpha
• Recombinant Proteins
• Polyethylene Glycols
• entecavir
• Guanine
• Cyclosporine
• peginterferon alfa-2a

Topics

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (therapeutic use)
• Adult
• Antiviral Agents (adverse effects)
• Biopsy
• Cyclosporine (therapeutic use)
• Drug Substitution
• Glomerulonephritis, Membranous (chemically induced, drug therapy, pathology)
• Guanine (analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Interferon-alpha (adverse effects)
• Kidney (drug effects, pathology)
• Male
• Nephrotic Syndrome (chemically induced, pathology)
• Polyethylene Glycols (adverse effects)
• Recombinant Proteins (adverse effects)
• Treatment Outcome