Hepatitis C virus-related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with renal involvement: current possibilities of treatment

Abstract

The paper considers the specific features of renal involvement developing in chronic infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the current possibilities of treatment. It details the clinical and morphological manifestations of HCV-related cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis, and criteria for its diagnosis and prognosis. The author discuss new approaches to treating (severe cryoglobulinemic vasculitis with renal involvement in particular) - antiviral therapy (pegylated interferon-α/ribavirin) in combination with biological agents (anti-CD monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab) to achieve clinical, virological, immunological remissions and a response at a molecular level - to eliminate oligo- and monoclonal B lymphocyte proliferation.

Keywords

• cryoglobulinemic vasculitis
• cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis
• hepatitis c virus infection
• antiviral therapy
• rituximab