title: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) treatment for hepatitis C-negative therapy-resistant essential mixed cryoglobulinemia with renal and cardiac failure.
abstract: A case of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-negative essential mixed cryoglobulinemia with initial skin, joint, and liver involvement, complicated by severe renal and cardiac failure and resistant to corticosteroid therapy, plasmapheresis, chlorambucil, and cyclophosphamide is presented. Treatment with an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) induced a persistent recovery of renal and cardiac function, disappearance of skin and joint lesions, and disappearance of cryoglobulins. In a 24-month follow-up period, our patient remains in remission and free of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Renal Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. Erik.Ghijsels@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghijsels
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lerut
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vanrenterghem
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kuypers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000150:complications; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab