#2672 Cryoglobulin-Induced membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a HEV-infected kidney transplant recipient: outcomes post ribavirin failure
Authors: Busso Jose Ignacio , Trinquet Aude , Berri Jeremy , Serre Jean Emmanuel , Pernin Vincent , Quintrec Moglie Le , Meyer Lara , Mazloum Manal , Chenine Leila , Tardieu Laurene 
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Hepatitis E is a zoonosis caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), which was first discovered 40 years ago. It is the most prevalent hepatitis virus worldwide. Most hepatitis E cases are self-limiting acute hepatitis, but the virus has been recognized to cause chronic hepatitis. Following the first case report of chronic hepatitis E (CHE) in a transplant recipient, CHE has recently been identified as associated with chronic liver damage induced in immunocompromised patients such as transplant recipients. CHE can induce extra-hepatic manifestations, such as immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, neurological symptoms, and kidney injuries. Few cases of glomerulonephritis (GN) and cryoglobulinemia in transplant patients have been related with CHE, with a good progression thanks to viral control with ribavirin introduction. There have been no reported cases in the literature of good progress in renal function in renal transplant patients despite failure of treatment with Ribavirin.

Method

We report here what is to our knowledge, the first documented case of HEV-induced de novo cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis in a renal transplant patient with a ten-year history of CHE infection unsuccessfully treated with ribavirin.

Results

A 69-year-old man underwent a kidney transplant for diabetes type 1. 7 years after transplantation, he was diagnosed with a chronic genotype 3.1H-HEV infection. He was treated by Ribavirin, but it did not allow to eradicate HEV but a biochemical response. At 18 years post transplant, he presented with asthenia, abdominal pains and increased liver enzyme levels: liver tests were disrupted with cytolysis and cholestasis. He presented also a nephritic syndrome with high blood pressure, oedemas, increased serum creatinine level, proteinuria with hypoalbuminemia and de novo microscopic hematuria.

Biological analysis revealed presence of type 2 cryoglobulinemia with monoclonal IgM Kappa (2285 mg/L), and polyclonal immunoglobulins association. Rheumatoid factor was increased (573 UI/ml) and C4 level was reduced (0.04 g/L). The concentration of HEV RNA in the serum was 750 000 UI/mL. Viral serologies were performed for HBV, HCV, HAV, HIV, EBV, CMV. Hematologic diseases were ruled out by analyzing a bone marrow biopsy specimen.

Histologic analysis of a kidney biopsy specimen revealed diffuse endocapillary proliferation, diffuse mesangial proliferation and focal glomerular basal membrane duplication. One arteriolar section showed a focal lesion of vasculitis (Fig. 1). There was no argument for allograft rejection.

Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed mesangial and capillary wall deposits of IgM, IgG, C3 and C1q, polytypic for k and l light chains.

We suspected cryoglobulinemic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis induced by VHE. The initial treatment plan involved 10 sessions of plasmapheresis and steroid pulses (500 mg/d for 3 days), alongside a course of rituximab (1 g/week for 4 weeks). However, the patient experienced intolerance to rituximab, prompting a switch to Obinutuzumab. Subsequently, the anti-HEV therapy was modified, and the patient was placed on a course of Sofosbuvir.

Consequently, three months after treatment kidney function kidney improved with return to baseline and cryoglobulinemia became undetectable. However, proteinuria remained impaired and VHE RNA was still present.

Conclusion

Cryoglobulinemia is rarely associated with glomerular disease in HEV infection, and cases currently reported in the literature showed a favorable outcome with ribavirin. This case is the first to display a chronic HEV infection with cryoglobulin-induced glomerulonephritis with global improvement despite unsuccessful treatment with ribavirin. Although the difficulty of managing immunity in the treatment of cryoglobulinemia by immunodepleting treatment, with the risk of increased viral replication in the absence of an effective antiviral, it seems interesting to offer a first-line treatment of cryoglobulinemia that appears to improve renal function despite continued viral replication. These results need to be confirmed in further studies.