[Nephrotic syndrome complicating treatment with interferon alpha]

We report two cases of nephrotic syndrome with minimal glomerular change complicating alpha-interferon therapy.

The first patient was a 60-year-old man with Waldenström's disease who was given 1 million units of alpha-interferon three times a week for 22 months. Acute renal failure developed when a second protocol was started. Renal biopsy revealed intraglomerular deposits and no cellular proliferation. Total remission could not be achieved with corticosteroids. The second case was a 46-year-old man given high dose alpha-interferon (15 million units 3 times a week) for lymph node metastasis of a malignant melanoma. A nephrotic syndrome without renal failure developed during the third month of treatment. Minimal glomerular involvement was seen. Symptomatic treatment led to resolution of the nephrotic syndrome.

Nine other cases of nephrotic syndrome complicating alpha-interferon therapy have been reported in the literature.