88035
document
Long-term results regarding the use of recombinant interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of II type mixed essential cryoglobulinemia . Thirty-three patients with II type mixed essential cryoglobulinemia ( MEC ) were randomized into two groups : one to receive combined therapy including prednisone plus interferon , the other to receive prednisone therapy . Interferon was administered as induction treatment ( 3 Mu/day ) and then as maintenance therapy ( 3 Mu three times a week ) . 83 % of the combined therapy patients responded as opposed to 27 % of the prednisone treated patients . Among the patients that responded to combined therapy , nine of them had a complete response , four a partial response , and two a minor response . None of the patients treated with prednisone therapy responded completely but only two had a partial and two a minor response . Four patients ( three of combined therapy and one of prednisone therapy ) showed proteinuria before the treatment which improved at the end of the induction therapy . Ten patients showed anti-HCV positivity which remained unchanged after the treatment . Three patients showed liver involvement secondary to cryoglobulinemia and an improvement of histological pattern after the induction with combined therapy . One patient showed an improvement of peripheral neuropathy after induction with the combined therapy . These data suggest the effectiveness of interferon given as induction and as maintenance treatment in the therapy of II type mixed essential cryoglobulinemia .
88036
Intervention_Pharmacological
recombinant interferon alpha-2b
88037
Intervention_Pharmacological
combined therapy including prednisone plus interferon
88038
Intervention_Pharmacological
prednisone
88039
Intervention_Pharmacological
Interferon
88040
Intervention_Pharmacological
prednisone
88041
Intervention_Pharmacological
combined therapy
88042
Intervention_Pharmacological
prednisone
88043
Intervention_Pharmacological
combined therapy .
88044
Intervention_Pharmacological
interferon
88045
Outcome_Physical
proteinuria
88046
Outcome_Physical
anti-HCV positivity
88047
Outcome_Physical
liver involvement
88048
Outcome_Physical
histological pattern
88049
Outcome_Physical
peripheral neuropathy
88050
Participant_Condition
II type mixed essential cryoglobulinemia .