An association between hepatotropic viruses, chiefly hepatitis C virus (HCV), occasionally hepatitis B virus (HBV), and mixed cryoglobulinemia has been widely reported. Alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) has usefully been employed in the treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia, particularly for liver and renal involvement. IFN-alpha treatment may be associated with neurological complications, including peripheral neuropathy. We describe an HBV positive patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia with recurrent purpura, mild sensory peripheral neuropathy, and active hepatitis treated with IFN-alpha. Rapid improvement of the purpura, liver enzymes, and cryocrit, and disappearance of serum HBV DNA were observed after a 4 week treatment period. However, concomitant worsening of the neuropathy prompted us to discontinue IFN-alpha. Although in this case, a positive effect of IFN-alpha on the clinico-serological and virological variables was confirmed, due to the possible exacerbation of neurological manifestations, a careful patient evaluation is necessary before starting IFN-alpha in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia.

Exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy during alpha-interferon therapy in a patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis B virus infection / La Civita, L; Zignego, Al; Lombardini, F; Monti, M; Longombardo, G; Pasero, G; Ferri, Clodoveo. - In: THE JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0315-162X. - STAMPA. - 23:(1996), pp. 1641-1643.

Exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy during alpha-interferon therapy in a patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis B virus infection

FERRI, Clodoveo
1996

Abstract

An association between hepatotropic viruses, chiefly hepatitis C virus (HCV), occasionally hepatitis B virus (HBV), and mixed cryoglobulinemia has been widely reported. Alpha-interferon (IFN-alpha) has usefully been employed in the treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia, particularly for liver and renal involvement. IFN-alpha treatment may be associated with neurological complications, including peripheral neuropathy. We describe an HBV positive patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia with recurrent purpura, mild sensory peripheral neuropathy, and active hepatitis treated with IFN-alpha. Rapid improvement of the purpura, liver enzymes, and cryocrit, and disappearance of serum HBV DNA were observed after a 4 week treatment period. However, concomitant worsening of the neuropathy prompted us to discontinue IFN-alpha. Although in this case, a positive effect of IFN-alpha on the clinico-serological and virological variables was confirmed, due to the possible exacerbation of neurological manifestations, a careful patient evaluation is necessary before starting IFN-alpha in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia.
1996
23
1641
1643
Exacerbation of peripheral neuropathy during alpha-interferon therapy in a patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia and hepatitis B virus infection / La Civita, L; Zignego, Al; Lombardini, F; Monti, M; Longombardo, G; Pasero, G; Ferri, Clodoveo. - In: THE JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY. - ISSN 0315-162X. - STAMPA. - 23:(1996), pp. 1641-1643.
La Civita, L; Zignego, Al; Lombardini, F; Monti, M; Longombardo, G; Pasero, G; Ferri, Clodoveo
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/740818
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