Long-term efficacy of rituximab in hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemia

Rheumatol Int. 2010 Sep;30(11):1515-8. doi: 10.1007/s00296-009-1106-1. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is one of the most closely related extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus and requires a challenging therapeutic approach depending on the severity of the symptoms. Here, we describe the long-term follow-up of a patient with important cutaneous, articular and neural manifestations of cryoglobulinemia associated with chronic hepatitis C treated with rituximab. A 42-year-old woman who did not respond to previous interferon-based treatments (standard and pegylated interferon plus ribavirin) and corticosteroids was subjected to treatment with rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The drug was well tolerated and complete improvement of arthralgia was immediately evident. There was gradual improvement of lower limbs paresthesia and healing of a leg ulcer that had been active for 5 years. The clinical and immunological responses induced by rituximab are sustained over long-term follow-up, and this case illustrates the drug efficacy for non-responder patients to antiviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Antirheumatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cryoglobulinemia / drug therapy*
  • Cryoglobulinemia / immunology*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Rituximab
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Rituximab