Treatment with peg-interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin of hepatitis C virus-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia: a pilot study.
J Hepatol
; 42(5): 632-8, 2005 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15826710
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS:
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.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Antivirais
/
Ribavirina
/
Interferon-alfa
/
Hepacivirus
/
Hepatite C Crônica
/
Crioglobulinemia
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2005
Tipo de documento:
Article