Background and aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis (MCV) is characterized by the expansion of rheumatoid factor-producing B-cell clones. The aim of this study was to assess whether B-cell clones may persist in these patients after the clearance of the virus with antiviral therapy, and whether their persistence influences clinical outcomes. METHODS: Forty-five HCV-cured MCV patients were followed up for a median of 18.5 (range 9-38) months after the clearance of HCV. Circulating B-cell clones were detected using flow cytometry either by the skewing of kappa/lambda ratio or by the expression of a VH 1-69-encoded idiotype. RESULTS: The clinical response of vasculitis was 78% complete, 18% partial and 4% null. However, cryoglobulins remained detectable in 42% of patients for more than 12 months. Circulating B-cell clones were detected in 18 of 45 patients, and in 17 of them persisted through the follow-up; nine of the latter patients cleared cryoglobulins and had complete response of vasculitis. Several months later, two of these patients had relapse of MCV. CONCLUSIONS: B-cell clones persist in MCV patients long after HCV infection has been cleared but halt the production of pathogenic antibody. These 'dormant' cells may be reactivated by events that perturb B-cell homeostasis and can give rise to the relapse of cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.

Long-lasting persistence of large B-cell clones in hepatitis C virus-cured patients with complete response of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis / Visentini, M; Del Padre, M; Colantuono, S; Yang, B; Minafò, Ya; Antonini, S; Carnovale, M; De Santis, A; Pulsoni, A; DE SANCTIS, Giuseppe Maria; Gragnani, L; Zignego, Al; Fiorilli, M; Casato, M.. - In: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 1478-3223. - (2019), pp. 1-5. [10.1111/liv.14053]

Long-lasting persistence of large B-cell clones in hepatitis C virus-cured patients with complete response of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis.

Visentini M
Primo
;
Del Padre M
Secondo
;
Colantuono S;Yang B;Minafò YA;Antonini S;De Santis A;Pulsoni A;De Sanctis GM;Fiorilli M
Penultimo
;
Casato M.
Ultimo
2019

Abstract

Background and aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis (MCV) is characterized by the expansion of rheumatoid factor-producing B-cell clones. The aim of this study was to assess whether B-cell clones may persist in these patients after the clearance of the virus with antiviral therapy, and whether their persistence influences clinical outcomes. METHODS: Forty-five HCV-cured MCV patients were followed up for a median of 18.5 (range 9-38) months after the clearance of HCV. Circulating B-cell clones were detected using flow cytometry either by the skewing of kappa/lambda ratio or by the expression of a VH 1-69-encoded idiotype. RESULTS: The clinical response of vasculitis was 78% complete, 18% partial and 4% null. However, cryoglobulins remained detectable in 42% of patients for more than 12 months. Circulating B-cell clones were detected in 18 of 45 patients, and in 17 of them persisted through the follow-up; nine of the latter patients cleared cryoglobulins and had complete response of vasculitis. Several months later, two of these patients had relapse of MCV. CONCLUSIONS: B-cell clones persist in MCV patients long after HCV infection has been cleared but halt the production of pathogenic antibody. These 'dormant' cells may be reactivated by events that perturb B-cell homeostasis and can give rise to the relapse of cryoglobulinaemic vasculitis.
2019
B‐cell clone, direct‐acting antivirals, Hepatitis C virus, mixed cryoglobulinaemia
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Long-lasting persistence of large B-cell clones in hepatitis C virus-cured patients with complete response of mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis / Visentini, M; Del Padre, M; Colantuono, S; Yang, B; Minafò, Ya; Antonini, S; Carnovale, M; De Santis, A; Pulsoni, A; DE SANCTIS, Giuseppe Maria; Gragnani, L; Zignego, Al; Fiorilli, M; Casato, M.. - In: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 1478-3223. - (2019), pp. 1-5. [10.1111/liv.14053]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1245444
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