I Assessment of free light chains in HCV-positive patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis undergoing rituximab treatment

摘要

Background & AimsMixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) is an HCV-related lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by the presence of circulating immune complexes called cryoglobulins. Treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab is proved to be very useful, especially in patients ineligible to interferon-based antiviral therapy. Recently, free light chain (FLC) / ratio and FLC patterns were associated with MC. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in FLC-, FCL-, FLC ratio following rituximab treatment in patients with HCV-related MC and to correlate FLC-, FCL- and FLC ratio values with therapy response.