Immune complex glomerulonephritis in patients with hepatitis C

Abstract EN

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) may have a pathogenic role in several forms of immune complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN), including cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and membranous nephropathy.

HCV infection may also be related indirectly (e.g.

secondary to HCV-related liver disease) or coincidentally to glomerulonephritis.

These include cases of fibrillary / immunotactoid glomerulopathy, MPGN arising in allografts, allograft glomerulopathy, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, and ICGN arising in individuals coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

This review summarizes the clinical and pathologic features of HCV-associated glomerular disease, particularly immune complex glomerulonephritis, and discusses possible pathogenic mechanisms.