Associação Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo Medical Journal, 5(116), p. 1823-1825, 1998
DOI: 10.1590/s1516-31801998000500008
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We report a case of a patient with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) who showed improvement after interferon-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</FONT> (IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</FONT>) therapy. A 35-year-old man with nephrotic syndrome and HBV antigens received a 24-week course of IFN-<FONT FACE="Symbol">a</FONT>. At the end of therapy there was an elevation in the level of plasma aminotransferase and an increase in proteinuria, which were followed by antigen/antibody seroconversion. This "flare-up" before seroconversion suggests an increase in disease activity in the liver and kidney, demonstrating in vivo HBV involvement in MGN.