[Hepatitis B associated membraneous glomerulonephritis: healing following drug-induced reactivation of hepatitis].

We report on a 7-year-old boy with nephrotic syndrome due to a membranous glomerulonephritis. The disease was caused by a persistent hepatitis B antigenemia without formation of antibodies. It was possible to show diffuse deposits of HBs antigen in the glomerular basement membrane and the mesangium by immunohistology. Therapy with cyclophosphamide resulted in an acute exacerbation of the hepatitis and, consequently, in a seroconversion. Subsequently, the nephrotic syndrome and the HBs antigenemia disappeared, and the hepatitis healed.