Are direct-acting antivirals safe and effective in hepatitis C virus-cryoglobulinemia? virological, immunological, and clinical data from a real-life experience.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the major cause of cryoglobulinemia. Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have markedly changed the therapeutic outcomes in the treatment of patients with HCV. We evaluate the efficacy, safety, immunological, and clinical response of different DAA regimens in HCV-cryoglobulinemia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-three cryoglobulinemic patients, divided into symptomatic [symptomatic cryoglobulinemic patients (SCP; n=35)] and asymptomatic [nonsymptomatic cryoglobulinemic patients (NSCP; n=60)], underwent DAAs. Eighty-nine comparable noncryoglobulinemic patients were selected as a control group. We evaluated the sustained virological response (SVR), the adverse effects, and the immune and symptomatic response.

RESULTS: Percentages of patients who achieved SVR and experienced adverse effects were not statistically different between the three groups (100, 95, 93.3% and 57.1, 53.3, 48.3%). In 68.5% of SCP and in 76.7% of NSCP, cryoglobulins disappeared at SVR. No risk factor was associated with the persistence of cryoglobulins. An increase was observed both in C4 (P=0.002; P=0.018) and in C3 (P=0.0037; P=0.031) in SCP and NSCP. About 70% of symptomatic patients showed a complete or partial symptomatic remission: persistence of symptoms is correlated to the type of clinical picture.

CONCLUSION: DAA regimens are safe and effective in patients with HCV-cryoglobulinemia. The achievement of SVR is necessary, but not sufficient, to achieve a complete immunological and clinical response.