The effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on clinical and serologic manifestations of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) were investigated by randomized, crossover-controlled trial in 26 patients. The trial alternated 6 months with and 6 months without IFN-alpha therapy (2 x 10(6) IU daily for a month, then every other day for 5 months). In 22 patients, pretreatment steroid dosage remained unchanged during the study. Six patients dropped out (three because of side effects), whereas another 20 patients experienced a significant improvement of purpura (P < .02) and serum transaminases (P < .005) during IFN-alpha treatment. The presence of clinical improvement was supported by the outcome measurements of several immunologic parameters. In particular, serum cryoglobulins were significantly reduced (P < .04) during IFN-alpha therapy. A rebound phenomenon of clinical and serologic parameters was observed after IFN-alpha discontinuation. In addition, no variations were recorded during 6 months without therapy. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was detected in 91% (20/22) of our MC patients; in 2/13 cases HCV RNA was no longer detectable in serum samples after IFN-alpha therapy. Thus, IFN-alpha could be considered as treatment for MC in patients with HCV seropositivity.

Interferon-alpha in mixed cryoglobulinemia patients: a randomized crossover controlled trial / C. Ferri; E. Marzo; F. Longombardo; F. Lombardini; L. La Civita; R. Vanacore; A.M. Liberati; R. Gerli; F. Greco; A. Moretti; M. Monti; P. Gentilini; S. Bombardieri; A.L. Zignego. - In: BLOOD. - ISSN 0006-4971. - STAMPA. - 81:(1993), pp. 1132-1136.

Interferon-alpha in mixed cryoglobulinemia patients: a randomized crossover controlled trial

MONTI, MONICA;GENTILINI, PAOLO;ZIGNEGO, ANNA LINDA
1993

Abstract

The effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) on clinical and serologic manifestations of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) were investigated by randomized, crossover-controlled trial in 26 patients. The trial alternated 6 months with and 6 months without IFN-alpha therapy (2 x 10(6) IU daily for a month, then every other day for 5 months). In 22 patients, pretreatment steroid dosage remained unchanged during the study. Six patients dropped out (three because of side effects), whereas another 20 patients experienced a significant improvement of purpura (P < .02) and serum transaminases (P < .005) during IFN-alpha treatment. The presence of clinical improvement was supported by the outcome measurements of several immunologic parameters. In particular, serum cryoglobulins were significantly reduced (P < .04) during IFN-alpha therapy. A rebound phenomenon of clinical and serologic parameters was observed after IFN-alpha discontinuation. In addition, no variations were recorded during 6 months without therapy. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA was detected in 91% (20/22) of our MC patients; in 2/13 cases HCV RNA was no longer detectable in serum samples after IFN-alpha therapy. Thus, IFN-alpha could be considered as treatment for MC in patients with HCV seropositivity.
1993
81
1132
1136
C. Ferri; E. Marzo; F. Longombardo; F. Lombardini; L. La Civita; R. Vanacore; A.M. Liberati; R. Gerli; F. Greco; A. Moretti; M. Monti; P. Gentilini; S. Bombardieri; A.L. Zignego
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Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/226194
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