HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Assessment of free light chains in HCV-positive patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis undergoing rituximab treatment.

AbstractBACKGROUND & AIMS:
Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is an HCV-related lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of circulating immune complexes called cryoglobulins. Treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is proved to be very useful, especially in patients ineligible to interferon-based antiviral therapy. Recently, free light chain (FLC) κ/λ ratio and FLC patterns were associated with MC. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in FLC-κ, FCL-λ, FLC ratio following rituximab treatment in patients with HCV-related MC and to correlate FLC-κ, FCL-λ and FLC ratio values with therapy response.
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.
AuthorsUmberto 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
JournalLiver 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
PMID25800731 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Copyright© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Chemical References
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains
  • Rituximab
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)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: