Efficacy and safety of peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for HCV-positive mixed cryoglobulinemia: a multicentre open-label study

The aim of the present study is to provide information on clinical outcome of the patients affected by HCV-positive mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) treated with PEG-IFN and Ribavirin for 6 or 12 months according to the HCV genotype. Eighty-six patients (42 women and 44 men) were enrolled in 8 Italian ce...

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Published in:Clinical and experimental rheumatology 2011-11, Vol.29 (6), p.933-941
Main Authors: MAZZARO, C, MONTI, G, PLETROGRANDE, M, POZZATO, G, SACCARDO, F, ZIGNEGO, A. L, FERRI, C, DE VITA, S, GABRIELLI, A, LENZI, M, DONADA, C, GALLI, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Antiviral agents
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Cryoglobulinemia - drug therapy
Cryoglobulinemia - virology
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Drug Therapy, Combination
Female
Hepacivirus - drug effects
Hepacivirus - immunology
Hepacivirus - isolation & purification
Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications
Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy
Humans
Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunopathology
Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use
Liver Function Tests
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use
Recombinant Proteins - therapeutic use
Ribavirin - therapeutic use
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:The aim of the present study is to provide information on clinical outcome of the patients affected by HCV-positive mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) treated with PEG-IFN and Ribavirin for 6 or 12 months according to the HCV genotype. Eighty-six patients (42 women and 44 men) were enrolled in 8 Italian centres. All the patients had MC in the active phase of the disease. The patients received Peginterferon alfa-2b 1.5 mcg/kg/once a week (QW) and daily oral Ribavirin (800/1,000/1,200) according to their body weight for 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 4 and for 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3. In the 44 patients who underwent 12 months of therapy, 17 cases (39%) could be considered as 'non-responders' and 11 relapsed, therefore only 16 patients (36%) obtained a sustained virological response. In the 42 patients who underwent six months of therapy only 7 cases (17%) could be considered as 'non-responders' and 8 relapsed, therefore 27 patients (64%) obtained a sustained virological response. Purpura score dropped in both group (p
ISSN:0392-856X
1593-098X