title: Treatment with peg-interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin of hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to verify the efficacy and safety of peg-interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for initial treatment of HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients (7 women and 11 men) affected by mixed cryoglobulinemia were included in the study and treated with peg-interferon alfa-2b 1.0 microg/kg once a week plus ribavirin (1000 mg daily) for 48 weeks, regardless of the HCV genotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the treatment HCV-RNA became undetectable in 15 patients (83%) and most patients improved clinically. One subject suspended treatment at 13th week due to depression. A large fraction of the patients (8 cases: 44%) relapsed both virologically and clinically a few weeks after the end of therapy. At the end of follow-up, only eight patients (44%) obtained a sustained virological response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peg-interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin seems safe and useful for patients affected by mixed cryoglobulinemia, but not as effective as in patients with HCV-positive chronic hepatitis without cryoglobulinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pordenone General Hospital, Via Montereale 24, 33170 Pordenone (PN), Italy. mazzaro@iol.it
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzaro
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zorat
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caizzi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donada
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gennaro
authors.forename: Luigino Dal
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Maso
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carniello
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Virgolini
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pozzato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b