title: Monoclonal antibody treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia resistant to interferon alpha with an anti-CD20.
abstract: A controlled study has been carried out to assess the efficacy of rituximab, a chimeric antibody that binds to the B-cell surface antigen CD20, in 20 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive chronic active liver disease, resistant to interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. They received an intravenous infusion of 375 mg/m(2) rituximab once a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Infusion of rituximab had a good safety profile and no severe side effects were reported. Sixteen patients (80%) showed a complete response (CR), characterized by rapid improvement of clinical signs (disappearance of purpura and weakness arthralgia and improvement of peripheral neuropathy), and decline of cryocrit. CR was associated with a significant reduction of rheumatoid factor (RF) activity and anti-HCV antibody titers. Decline of IgG anti-HCV titers in the cryoprecipitates was usually associated with a favorable response (r = 0.81; P <.005). No differences in the dynamics of B-cell depletion and recovery were found between responders and nonresponders. Molecular monitoring of the B-cell response revealed disappearance/deletion of peripheral clones in the responders and great stability in the nonresponders. Rituximab had a deep impact on hepatitis C viremia; HCV RNA increased approximately twice the baseline levels in the responders, whereas it remained much the same in the nonresponders. Twelve (75%) of 16 responders remained in remission throughout the follow-up. The results indicate that rituximab has clinical and biologic activity in patients with HCV(+) MC. However, in view of the increased viremia in the responders, additional modes of application and combination of rituximab with other agents need to be investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Section of Internal Medicine and Clinical Oncology, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sansonno
authors.forename: Valli
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Re
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lauletta
authors.forename: Felicia Anna
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boiocchi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dammacco
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab