A rare presentation of HBV infection

Aswani Srinivas Mareddy, Dharshan Rangaswamy, Mahesha Vankalakunti, Ravindra Prabhu Attur, Shankar Prasad Nagaraju, Neeraja Koti

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection presenting as crescentic glomerulonephritis in the absence of cryoglobulinemia is an extremely rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 44-year- old male with HBV infection, who underwent kidney biopsy for rapidly progressive renal failure and nephrotic range proteinuria. Histopathological evaluation of the kidney biopsy was consistent with immune complex mediated crescentic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). The patient achieved complete renal and virological remission with steroids, plasmapheresis and antiviral therapy. This case report summarises the importance of early initiation of immunosuppression and plasmapheresis under antiviral coverage for improved clinical outcomes.
Full Text: PDF