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Gragnani L, Cerretelli G, Lorini S, Steidl C, Giovannelli A, Monti M, Petraccia L, Sadalla S, Urraro T, Caini P, Xheka A, Simone A, Arena U, Matucci-Cerinic M, Vergani D, Laffi G, Zignego AL. Interferon-free therapy in hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a prospective, controlled, clinical and quality of life analysis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2018; 48:440-450. [PMID: 29952013 DOI: 10.1111/apt.14845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis (CV) is a lymphoproliferative disorder related to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection; anti-viral therapy is the first therapeutic option. CV can be incapacitating, compromising the patients' quality of life (QoL). In a controlled study, interferon-based therapy was associated with a lower virological response in vasculitic patients than in patients without vasculitis. Limited, uncontrolled data on direct-acting anti-virals are available. AIM To evaluate safety, clinical efficacy, virological response and the impact of interferon-free treatment on QoL in HCV patients with and without mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC). METHODS We prospectively studied HCV patients with cryoglobulinaemia (with vasculitis-CV- and without vasculitis-MC-) and without cryoglobulinaemia (controls), treated with direct-acting anti-virals. Hepato-virological parameters, CV clinical response and impact on QoL were assessed. RESULTS One hundred and eighty-two HCV patients were recruited (85 with CV, 54 with MC and 43 controls). A sustained virological response at 12 weeks (SVR12) was achieved in 166 (91.2%) patients (77/85 CV, 48/54 MC, 41/43 controls). In CV SVR patients, cryocrit levels progressively decreased and clinical response progressively improved, reaching 96.7%, 24 weeks after treatment. QoL, baseline physical and mental component summaries were lower in the CV group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). Scores improved in all groups, and significantly in CV patients after SVR. CONCLUSIONS No significant differences in SVR rates were recorded between cryoglobulinaemic patients and controls and a high clinical and immunological efficacy was confirmed in CV, supporting the role of interferon-free therapy as the first therapeutic option. Interestingly, CV patients had worse baseline QoL than other HCV-positive groups and interferon-free therapy was effective in significantly increasing QoL, suggesting the important role of direct-acting anti-viral-based therapy in improving CV's individual and social burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gragnani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - G Cerretelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - S Lorini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - C Steidl
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Giovannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - M Monti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - L Petraccia
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - S Sadalla
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - T Urraro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - P Caini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Xheka
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A Simone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - U Arena
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - M Matucci-Cerinic
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - D Vergani
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College Hospital, London, UK
| | - G Laffi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
| | - A L Zignego
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine and Department of Oncology, Interdepartmental Center for Systemic Manifestations of Hepatitis Viruses (MASVE), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), Florence, Italy
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