Abstract | BACKGROUND & AIMS: PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 46 patients with HCV infection (26 females, 20 males), including 10 patients without signs/symptoms of MC-related vasculitis, 36 with MC vasculitis. Clinical and biological data were recorded at baseline and 6 months after RTX treatment. Nephelometric measurement of serum FLCs was taken. RESULTS: The mean serum FLC-κ level and FLC ratio were significantly higher in patients with MC, compared to HCV patients without MC and to blood donors. An abnormal FLC ratio at baseline correlated with the presence of cryoglobulins, C4 consumption, higher RF level and higher vasculitis rate. To evaluate the predictive value of FLCs, patients with MC were divided into two groups according to RTX therapy outcome (responders and no/partial responders). Abnormal baseline FLC ratio was significantly associated with no/partial response. CONCLUSIONS: RTX treatment in HCV-related MC induces a reduction in FLC-κ and RF levels. Moreover, pretreatment FLC ratio, which can be easily assessed by a routine test, may be useful to predict response to this expensive treatment for patients with HCV-related MC ineligible to IFN-based therapy.
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Authors | Umberto Basile, Laura Gragnani, Alessia Piluso, Francesca Gulli, Teresa Urraro, Maria T Dell'Abate, Eleonora Torti, Cristina Stasi, Monica Monti, Gian Ludovico Rapaccini, Anna Linda Zignego |
Journal | Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver
(Liver Int)
Vol. 35
Issue 9
Pg. 2100-7
(Sep 2015)
ISSN: 1478-3231 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 25800731
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
Chemical References |
- Antiviral Agents
- Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
- Rituximab
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Topics |
- Aged
- Antiviral Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Cryoglobulinemia
(drug therapy)
- Female
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(complications)
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
(blood)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Retrospective Studies
- Rituximab
(therapeutic use)
- Vasculitis
(drug therapy)
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