Clinical and Immune Effects of Direct-Acting Antivirals in HCV-Associated Cryoglobulinemia

A recent study showed that direct-acting antiviral regimens (DAAs) are effective in clearing hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with virus-associated cryoglobulinemia (NEJM JW Gastroenterol Apr 2016 and Hepatology 2016; 63:408). The current study assesses the clinical and immune effects of viral eradication with DAAs.

The authors prospectively studied HCV-infected patients with circulating cryoglobulins receiving DAAs. Complete clinical response was defined as improvement in all affected organs after achieving a sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR12) or a Birmingham vasculitis activity score of zero.

A total of 64 patients with HCV-related cryoglobulinemia were treated, of whom 35 had vasculitis and the rest…