Project description:Treatment with a direct acting antiviral (DAA) has revolutionized HCV therapy, as more than 95% of patients achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CryoVas), however, can persist and recur after the HCV cure. In this systematic review, we include data from 19 studies that provided information on the persistence and recurrence of CryoVas after the HCV cure with DAAs. A complete clinical response (CR) was reported in 63.7% to 90.2% of the DAA-treated patients after achieving SVR. Relapse of CryoVas symptoms was reported in 4% to 18% of the patients. Neuropathy, nephropathy, and dermatological complications were the most common manifestations of CryoVas. B-cell clones persisted in 31-40% of the patients and could contribute to CryoVas relapse. INFL3-rs12979860, ARNTL-rs648122, RETN-rs1423096, and SERPINE1-rs6976053 were associated with a higher incidence of persistence and recurrence of CryoVas. Prospective multicenter studies with diverse patient populations are needed to validate these findings for the timely and effective management of this challenging condition.
Project description:Vasculitis is characterized by the infiltration of vessel walls by inflammatory leukocytes with reactive damage and subsequent loss of vessel integrity. The clinical course of systemic vasculitis may be punctuated by acute life-threatening manifestations that require intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Furthermore, the diagnosis may be established in the ICU after admission for a severe inaugural symptom, mostly acute respiratory failure. Among the systemic vasculitides, cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV) has been rarely studied in an ICU setting. Severe CV-related complications may involve the kidneys, lungs, heart, gut, and/or central nervous system. The diagnosis of CV in the ICU may be delayed or completely unrecognized. A high level of suspicion is critical to obtain a timely and accurate diagnosis and to initiate appropriate treatment. We describe severe acute manifestations of CV based on six selected patients admitted to our ICU. That all six patients survived suggests the benefit of prompt ICU admission of patients with severe CV.
Project description:(1) Background. Hepatitis C infection often leads to extrahepatic manifestations, including cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. This systematic review aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of rituximab in treating hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. (2) Methods. Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched for relevant studies. Eligibility criteria included studies on hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis treated with rituximab. (3) Results. Nine studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in this analysis. Rituximab was commonly administered at 375 mg/m2 weekly for one month. The results consistently demonstrated the efficacy of rituximab, whether as a standalone treatment or as part of a therapeutic regimen. The combination of rituximab with Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin significantly increased the complete response rate compared to Peg-IFN-α and ribavirin alone (54.5% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.05). The 3-year sustained response rate was notably higher in the rituximab combination group (83.3% vs. 40%). In another trial, rituximab achieved remission in 83.3% of patients at 6 months, compared to only 8.3% in the control group. The efficacy of rituximab was supported by long-term experience, with clinical benefits in patients with severe cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, including those resistant to standard therapies. Mild adverse events were generally reported, with rare severe reactions in some studies. (4) Conclusions: In conclusion, rituximab appeared to be effective and safe in managing hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, either alone or with antiviral therapy.
Project description:BackgroundData on non-infectious cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (NICV) is scarce, especially concerning the management of relapses, which are troublesome. We aimed to investigate risk factors for relapse in NICV.MethodsA systematic literature search of CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Web of Science databases was implemented until April 2023. Eligible studies included randomized control trials, observational studies, and case series with ≥4 patients. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the eligible studies.ResultsA total of 3,724 articles were retrieved from a database search, with 27 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for review. Most studies (n = 23) detailed relapses, with the time to relapse varying between 1 and 80 months. The relapse rate was reported at 28% in Type I NICV and ranged from 22% to 60% in mixed NICV. Risk factors for relapse in NICV were identified based on the cryoglobulin subtype and correlated with clinical and immunological responses to varying treatment regimens. Type I NICV with an associated lymphoproliferative disorder exhibited a response-relapse pattern. Cutaneous and articular involvement and incomplete clinical and immunological responses to treatment, particularly corticosteroid monotherapy and occasionally rituximab, influence the risk of relapse in Type II and Type III NICV.ConclusionOur findings underscore the significance of attaining both clinical and immunological responses and identifying risk factors for relapse in NICV. Appropriate risk stratification for NICV patients is essential for the successful implementation of effective treatment strategies.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023408140.
Project description:Mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis is associated with monoclonal B cell expansion in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. B cell depletion therapy using rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been successful in achieving remission from symptomatic disease. This study investigated whether B cell depletion therapy has an impact on activation of HCV-specific T cell phenotype and function. Nineteen patients with Hepatitis C mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis were treated with 4 cycles of rituximab (375 mg/m2 ) and variables were measured 6 months after therapy. Using flow cytometry and Enzyme-Linked Immunospot assay, the number of activated and tissue-like B cells and number of T cells expressing Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3), and multiple cytokines were measured before and after rituximab therapy. B cell depletion therapy is associated with a significant (P < 0.0001) decline in peripheral T cells with exhaustive phenotype, from pre-therapy to post-therapy-of rituximab (mean ± standard error): CD4+ (16.9 ± 0.9% to 8.9 ± 1.0%) and CD8+ (6.8 ± 0.6% to 3.0 ± 0.5%) T cells expressing PD-1 and CD4+ (11.0 ± 1.0% to 6.1 ± 0.8%) and CD8+ (12.7 ± 0.7% to 6.4 ± 0.4%) T cells expressing TIM-3. In addition, there was a significantly higher percentage of peripheral CD8+ T cells responding to HCV peptide stimulation in vitro secreting IFN-γ (4.55 ± 0.3 to 9.6 ± 1.0 IFN-γ/106 PBMCs, P < 0.0001), and more than one cytokine (1.3 ± 0.1% to 3.8 ± 0.2%, P < 0.0001) after therapy compared to pre-therapy. B cell depletion therapy results in recovery of T cell exhaustion and function in patients with HCV cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.
Project description:ObjectiveHepatitis C virus (HCV) causes neuropsychiatric disorders and quality of life impairment, especially in patients with cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV). Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are effective in most extrahepatic HCV diseases, but limited information exists regarding the outcome of psychiatric disorders in patients with and without CV, after therapy. We aimed to evaluate psychiatric outcomes, in HCV-patients with and without CV, before and after successful DAA therapy.MethodsWe prospectively studied DAA-treated HCV-patients, stratified into presence (CV) or absence of CV (NON-CV). Four psychometric scales were administered to assess depression (HAM-D and MADRS), anxiety (HAM-A), and mania (MRS). Short-Form-36 questionnaires evaluated quality of life.ResultsSeventy-six patients were recruited, and 47 CV and 29 NON-CV were treated with antivirals. At baseline, depression and anxiety, from mild to severe, were frequently shown, with the most advanced cases in thee CV group; no patients achieved the scores for mania. A significant improvement emerged for all the psychometric scales in the entire population and in the subgroups, after viral eradication even in the short-term outcome. The Short-Form-36 summary components showed benefits.ConclusionsAfter HCV eradication, the depression and anxiety scores significantly improved and severity grade generally lowered. DAA-positive effects on mental disorders should be considered part of the therapy outcome, being beneficial especially in CV patients who usually have worse baseline mental scores. Key Points • HCV frequently causes psychiatric disorders and an often-invalidating autoimmune/lymphoproliferative disease called cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. • The new direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are very effective and well tolerated by HCV-patients. • This study shows DAA-induced benefits on depression and anxiety in HCV-patients that are especially evident in CV patients who usually have worse baseline mental scores. • DAA-induced benefits are observed in the short-term post-therapy follow-up, in contrast with data previously obtained in HCV patients treated with IFN-based anti-HCV therapy.
Project description:Systemic sclerosis- (SSc-) related vasculopathy, as manifested by Raynaud's Phenomenon (RP) and digital ulcers (DUs), is associated with significant impairment of the quality of life and morbidity. The current vasoactive approach for SSc-RP, although employing vasodilators, is entirely off-label. PDE-5 inhibitors improve peripheral circulation, are well tolerated, and are widely used for various forms of constrictive vasculopathies. This class of medications has become one of the first lines of treatment of SSc-RP and SSc-DUs among rheumatologists that routinely treat SSc patients. Due to the lack of robust randomized clinical trials of PDE-5 inhibitors in SSc-RP/DUs, the PDE-5 inhibitors have not been FDA approved for these particular indications, which constitutes a significant barrier to prescribing this category of drugs. This paper reviews the current state of evidence-based knowledge in SSc-related vasculopathy and the use of PDE-5 inhibitors.
Project description:ObjectiveTo perform a randomized controlled trial of rituximab in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.MethodsWe conducted a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial of rituximab (375 mg/ m(2) /week for 4 weeks) compared to the best available therapy (maintenance or increase in immunosuppressive therapy) for HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in patients in whom antiviral therapy had failed to induce remission. The primary end point was disease remission at 6 months from study entry.ResultsA total of 24 patients were enrolled (12 in each treatment group). Baseline disease activity and organ involvement were similar in the two groups. Ten patients in the rituximab group (83%) were in remission at study month 6, as compared with 1 patient in the control group (8%), a result that met the criterion for stopping the study (P < 0.001). The median duration of remission for rituximab-treated patients who reached the primary end point was 7 months. No adverse effects of rituximab on HCV plasma viremia or on hepatic transaminase levels were observed.ConclusionRituximab was a well-tolerated and effective treatment in patients with HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in whom antiviral therapy failed to induce remission.