title: Symptomatic and virological response to antiviral therapy in hepatitis C associated with extrahepatic complications of cryoglobulimia.
abstract: Mixed cryoglobulins are detected in 50% of patients with hepatitis C; fortunately, few have vasculitis affecting skin, peripheral nerves, kidneys, and synovia. This study was designed to identify the natural history of symptomatic cryoglobulinemia and evaluate the response to antiviral therapy. Patients with hepatitis C complicated by symptomatic cryoglobulinemia were assessed for their disease manifestations and response to antiviral therapy. Of 83 patients identified, 56 patients with a minimum of 12 months follow-up were reviewed. Manifestations included dermatologic (75%), rheumatologic (57%), neurologic (34%), and renal (proteinuria 25%). Antiviral therapy was given to 38, of whom 9 were retreated for symptomatic and/or virological nonresponse. Antiviral therapy included interferon monotherapy (n= 8), pegylated-interferon monotherapy (n= 5), consensus-interferon (n= 2), interferon + ribavirin (n= 18), and pegylated-interferon + ribavirin (n= 14). Treatment provided sustained symptomatic response in 31 (82%) and virological response in 16 (42%) patients. Symptomatic cryoglobulinemia responds well to antiviral therapy, even when virological response is not achieved.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 2S8, USA.
authors.forename: Supriya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuczynski
authors.forename: E Jenny
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Heathcote
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003450:Cryoglobulins; D004279:DNA, Viral