Successful treatment of nephrotic syndrome with cryofiltration in a patient with malignant lymphoma complicated with hepatitis C and mixed cryoglobulinemia

A 43-year-old woman was admitted because of fever, swollen lymph node and nephrotic syndrome. Malignant lymphoma was diagnosed based on pathological findings of the cervical lymph node by lymph node biopsy. Mixed cryoglobulinemia associated with HCV was diagnosed, because HCV and cryoglobulin in serum were positive and immunoelectrophoresis of serum demonstrated monoclonal gammopathy of IgM and polyclonal gammopathy of IgG and IgA. Swelling of the lymph node disappeared following CHOP therapy, however nephrotic syndrome was not improved. Therefore cryofiltration by double filtration plasma pheresis was performed and proteinuria was obviously decreased. Thereafter interferon therapy was performed because chronic hepatitis was diagnosed as a result of liver biopsy.