title: Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) in a case of chronic hepatitis C--successful treatment with interferon alpha.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection has previously been shown to be associated in some cases with an immunologic disorder called "Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia" (EMC). In this report a case of transfusion-associated chronic hepatitis C will be demonstrated. During patient's follow-up over a period of fifteen years the woman developed symptoms consistent with the clinical triad of EMC: general weakness, polyarthralgias and purpura. Laboratory chemical values support the presence of mixed cryoglobulins. Application of different therapeutic strategies revealed an improvement of both clinical and biochemical findings during interferon-alpha treatment. Results suggest that during chronic hepatitis C virus infection interferon-alpha therapy may represent the elective choice of treatment for typical symptoms of EMC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pingel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramadori
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003450:Cryoglobulins; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor