Clinical, serological, and immunological variables in eight patients with hepatitis C virus associated cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis at the time of diagnosis and after six months of treatment with interferon α
| Variable | At diagnosis | Six months interferon α | p Value | Normal range |
| BVAS | 12.3 (1.3) | 4.9 (0.5) | <0.05 | 0 |
| DEI | 4.2 (0.5) | 2.0 (0.0) | <0.05 | 0 |
| ESR (mm/h) | 27.7 (6.2) | 20.5 (3.3) | NS | <20 |
| Cryoglobulin (mg/l) | 625 (218) | 144 (53) | <0.05 | 02-150 |
| C3c (g/l) | 0.79 (0.10) | 1.04 (0.04) | <0.05 | 0.9–1.8l |
| C4 (g/l) | <0.09 | <0.09 | NS | 0.1–0.4 |
| CH50 (U/ml) | <18 | <18 | NS | 20–50 |
| RF (U/ml) | 229 (95) | 61 (15.6) | <0.05 | <30 |
| ALT (U/l) | 21.8 (2.4) | 15.1 (1.5) | <0.05 | <18 |
| sIL2r (U/ml) | 1543 (316) | 954 (214) | <0.05 | <1000 |
| sICAM-1 (U/ml) | 205 (22) | 128 (14) | <0.05 | <295 |
| sCD30 (U/ml) | 14.3 (2.8) | 7.0 (0.3) | <0.05 | <10 |
Where appropriate, data are expressed as mean (SEM).
↵2-150 Cryoglobulin detection threshold for immunofixation ⩾80 mg/l. ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ALT = alanine aminotransferase; RF = rheumatoid factor; C3c = complement C3c; C4 = complement C4; CH50 = total haemolytic complement; sIL2r = soluble interleukin 2 receptor; sICAM-1 = soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1; sCD30 = soluble CD3; BVAS = Birmingham vasculitis activity score12; DEI = disease extent index.14-16