Course of clinical, virological and immunological parameters in the 23 HCV-associated MC patients
| Parameters | Baseline | Week 24 | p Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical | |||
| Purpura | 16 (69.6) | 1 (4.3) | 0.003 |
| Polyneuropathy | 12 (52.2) | 7 (30.4) | 0.70 |
| Arthralgia | 9 (39.1) | 1 (4.3) | 0.045 |
| Kidney involvement | 6 (26.1) | 1 (4.3) | 0.11 |
| Creatininemia (µmol/l) | 112 (81–217) | 83.5 (67–104) | 0.12 |
| Daily proteinuria (g) | 0.55 (0.4–7.6) | 0.2 (0–0.3) | 0.005 |
| Haematuria (n,%) | 5 (21.7) | 0 | 0.056 |
| Median BVAS | 9 (3–18) | 0 (0–6) | p<0.0001 |
| Virological | |||
| Median HCV RNA (log10 IU/ml) | 6.2 (5.32; 6.53) | 1.1 (1.1; 1.1) | 0.0006 |
| HCV RNA detectable (n,%) | 23 (100) | 7 (30.4) | 0.005 |
| Median ALT level (IU/l) | 52 (29; 70.5) | 22.5 (20.25; 47) | 0.09 |
| Abnormal ALT level (n,%) | 14 (60.9) | 5 (31.2) | 0.44 |
| Immunological | |||
| Median serum cryoglobulin level (g/l) | 0.443 (0.2; 0.845) | 0.06 (0; 0.2228) | 0.0006 |
| Cryoglobulin detectable (n,%)* | 18 (100) | 14 (77.8) | 0.63 |
| Median serum C4 complement level (g/l) | 0.09 (0.06; 0.13) | 0.15 (0.06; 0.1975) | 0.045 |
| Median serum rheumatoid factor (RF) levels (IU/ml) | 60.5 (13; 145) | 51.5 (17.5; 118.8) | 0.43 |
Except where indicated otherwise values are median (IQR) and n (%).
*At inclusion, 18 out of 23 patients had detectable cryoglobulin.
ALT, alanine aminotransferase; BVAS, Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score; HCV, hepatitis C virus; MC, mixed cryoglobulinemia.