Interferon plus ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus positive mixed cryoglobulinemia resistant to interferon.
OBJECTIVE
Only a small fraction of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive mixed cryoglobulinemia achieve longterm recovery after interferon (IFN) therapy; we evaluated the effectiveness and safety of combination therapy (interferon plus ribavirin) in nonresponders or those who relapsed after one or more courses of IFN.


METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with HCV positive mixed cryoglobulinemia were studied. All were treated with IFN-a2b (3 MU 3 times weekly) for one year, plus daily oral ribavirin 1000 or 1200 mg.


RESULTS
Five patients (18.5%) obtained complete recovery from viral infection and from all signs and symptoms of disease. During treatment, most patients (85%) improved clinically. All 5 responders were "relapsers" to the first treatment(s).


CONCLUSIONS
Combination therapy of IFN plus ribavirin could be useful for patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia resistant to IFN as monotherapy.
Mazzaro
Cesare
C
Second Medical Unit, S. Maria degli Angeli Hospital, Pordenone, Italy.
Zorat
Francesca
F
Comar
Consuelo
C
Nascimben
Fabiana
F
Bianchini
Dario
D
Baracetti
Stefano
S
Donada
Carlo
C
Donadon
Valter
V
Pozzato
Gabriele
G
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001706:Biopsy; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions / Q000032:analysis; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D022801:Complementarity Determining Regions; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin