Cryoglobulinemia in transfusion-dependent thalassemia major.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of cryoglobulinemia and associated symptoms in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients at high risk for HCV infection.


METHODS
A controlled epidemiological study was used to evaluate the prevalence of clinical, biochemical and immunological abnormalities in a group of 264 HCV-positive and 106 HCV-negative transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. Haematologic and hepatic function tests were performed according to standard methods. HCV-RNA was detected by PCR analysis.


RESULTS
The significant presence of cryoglobulinemia and associated symptoms (purpura, vasculitis, arthritis, asthenia, proteinuria), serum autoantibodies (SMA, anti-GOR, ANA, LKM), low complement and rheumatoid factor were found in HCV-positive compared with HCV-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the role of HCV in inducing cryoglobulinemia and immunological disorders in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. HCV infection and associated immune abnormalities are a new clinical aspect of, and deserve particular attention due to their high frequency in, transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients.
Dessì
C
C
Istituto di Clinica e Biologia dell'Età Evolutiva, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Italy.
Clemente
M G
MG
Diana
G
G
Congia
M
M
Frau
F
F
Lai
M E
ME
Mazzoleni
A P
AP
Balestrieri
A
A
Cengiarotti
L
L
Piano
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D065227:Transfusion Reaction; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers