Treatment of Hepatitis B virus - associated glomerulonephritis with alpha interferon in a 7 year old boy

Background: The association between Hepatitis B virus infection and membranous nephropathy has been confirmed by sources in several countries. Most commonly, the illness is seen as a nephrotic syndrome. Optimal treatment remains undefined. Antiviral therapies observed with recombinant human interferon alpha may be the best treatment option. Case report: We present a 7-year old boy with membranous glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. Twelve months after the initial hospitalization therapy was started with recombinant alpha-interferon s.c. three times weekly for six months. After the therapy the patient is stable, without proteinuria, edema or renal failure. He was seronegative for HBsAg, HBV-DNA and antibody to HBeAg. Conclusions: This case report suggests that alpha interferon is effective in the complete resolution of proteinuria in HBV membranous nephropathy.