Issue: 2008 > January > case report

Rituximab for the treatment of glomerulonephritis in hepatitis C associated cryoglobulinaemia



CASE REPORT
M.R. Korte, M.J. van Heerde, R.A. de Man, M.H.G. Betjes
AbstractPDF

Abstract

Mixed-type cryoglobulins are strongly associated with
hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and may lead to vasculitis with renal involvement. The treatment of this condition is antiviral therapy for HCV, but this may be ineffective or not tolerated because of side effects. Alternative strategies such as immunosuppressive drugs and plasmapheresis are of limited use, especially in patients after liver transplantation (LTx). We describe an LTx patient with cryoglobulinaemiaassociated glomerulonephritis, who was treated successfully with the B cell depleting monoclonal antibody rituximab.