Baseline characteristics of the 24 patients with HCV-cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis
| N=24 | |
|---|---|
| Age, years | 56.5 (49.5–66.5) |
| Female gender (n, %) | 11 (46) |
| HCV infection characteristics | |
| HCV genotype (n, %) | |
| 1a | 6 (25) |
| 1b | 6 (25) |
| 2 | 2 (8) |
| 3 | 6 (25) |
| 4 | 3 (13) |
| 5 | 1 (4) |
| Metavir liver fibrosis score (n, %) | |
| Stage 1 | 5 (21) |
| Stage 2 | 5 (21) |
| Stage 3 | 2 (8) |
| Stage 4 | 12 (50) |
| Median baseline HCV RNA (log10 IU/mL) | 5.9 (4.5; 6.3) |
| Median ALT level (IU/L) | 48.5 (28; 68) |
| Haematological variables | |
| Median haemoglobin count (g/dL) | 13.3 (12; 15) |
| Median neutrophil count (103/mm3) | 2.9 (2.3; 4) |
| Median platelet count (103/mm3) | 175 (115; 264) |
| Previous virological response to antiviral therapy | |
| Naive | 11 (46) |
| No response | 9 (37) |
| Relapse* | 4 (17) |
| Mixed cryoglobulinaemia-related | |
| Median serum cryoglobulin level (g/L) | 0.36 (0.2; 0.8) |
| Median serum C4 level (g/L) | 0.10 (0.07; 0.19) |
| Median serum rheumatoid factor level (IU/mL) | 26 (6; 84) |
| Vasculitis (n, %) | |
| Purpura | 16 (67) |
| Skin ulcer | 3 (13) |
| Skin necrosis | 1 (4) |
| Arthralgia | 14 (58) |
| Polyneuropathy | 16 (67) |
| Kidney involvement | 5 (21) |
Except where indicated otherwise, values are median (IQR) and n (%).
*Relapse was defined as undetectable HCV RNA at the end of a previous course of therapy with HCV RNA positivity thereafter.
ALT, alanine aminotransferase; HCV, hepatitis C virus.