[Cryoglobulinemia in chronic hepatitis C. Improvement by alpha-interferon is independent of virus elimination].
BACKGROUND
During the last few years, the association of mixed cryoglobulinemia with chronic viral infections has gained increasing interest. Chronic hepatitis C seems to play a major role. As alpha-interferon is an established therapy for chronic hepatitis C, it was also tried successfully in cryoglobulinemia type II, associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.


METHODS
The course of 3 patients with cryoglobulinemia type II and chronic hepatitis C is presented.


RESULTS
Two patients received immunosuppressive therapy prior to alpha-interferon without success. In all cases, remission or improvement of the cryoglobulinemia was noticed with alpha-interferon, but none of the patients cleared the hepatitis C virus. Although the treatment was well tolerated, two patients developed neurologic resp. psychiatric side effects, probably due to alpha-interferon.


CONCLUSIONS
From our results and from data reported previously, immunomodulating treatment with alpha-interferon can be recommended for therapy of virus-associated cryoglobulinemia rather than the "classical" treatment with immunosuppressive agents. The specific side effects of alpha-interferon have to be monitored carefully.
Glück
T
T
Dürk
H
H
Kötter
I
I
Zimmermann
C
C
Saal
J G
JG
D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha