Clinical Correlations and Patient’s Prognosis in Glomerular Disease Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Hepatitis C virus infection is a systemic disorder that has been associated with extrahepatic manifestations.Our study had the goal to help understand the association between glomerulonephritis and virus C infection and its consequences and to identify prognostic factors.We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 59 patients with biopsy proven glomerulonephritis and hepatitis C virus infection diagnosed between 2007-2022 in "Dr.Carol Davila" Clinical Hospital of Nephrology.A high baseline creatinine increased 9 times the risk of ESRD (end stage renal disease), but nor proteinuria nor age were risk factors for ESRD.No correlation between viremia and eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) or proteinuria were found.Furthermore, the clinical severity of glomerular disease didn't correlate with the severity of liver damage, so we concluded that the hepatic disease wasn't influenced by immunosuppression in terms of hepatotoxicity or a very high viral replication.As for laboratory abnormalities, all cryoglobulinemic patients had a high rheumatoid factor and a positive cryoglobulinemic test and all lupus patients had anti dsDNA antibodies positive at the end of the follow-up.This ongoing immunologic activity (despite antiviral therapy and/ or immunosuppression) could be a risk factor for future relapses.In conclusion, the association of glomerulonephritis and hepatitis C virus is heterogenous and more studies are necessary to help the clinician in order to decide the most appropriate therapy for each patient.