PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Invernizzi

Publications and source records attributed to F Invernizzi.

79 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

HCV genotypes in bone marrow and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia.

OBJECTIVE: The association of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) with the cryoglobulinemic syndrome is well known, but its pathogenetic mechanism still remains to be clarified. HCV-RNA has been found in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of infected subjects. We investigated the presence of the HCV genome in bone marrow cells (BMC), and the distribution of different HCV genotypes in individuals with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and in noncryoglobulinemic controls. METHODS: 15 anti-HCV positive subjects with MC, 7 non-cryoglobulinemic patients with type C chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and 2 anti-HCV negative controls were studied. HCV-RNA was detected by nested PCR of the highly conserved 5'-NCR sequence. HCV typing was carried out by means of the hybridization of the same amplified region with specific probes. RESULTS: HCV-RNA was present in the PBMC of a large proportion of the MC patients and controls without any significant differences. On the contrary, HCV-RNA was present in the bone marrow cells of all the patients with MC and in 43% of the CAH controls. The HCV 1b and 2a genotypes seem to be the most prevalent among MC patients. Nevertheless, the patients with type II MC had a very high prevalence of the 2a genotype (77%). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the presence of HCV-RNA in bone marrow cells may be correlated to the pathogenetic mechanism of MC. Other studies are needed to confirm the frequent association of HCV genotype 2 with MC.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

HCV-RNA detection using different PCR methods in sera, cryoglobulins and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia.

OBJECTIVE: The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is frequently associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), and a number of authors have reported the presence of anti-HCV antibodies and HCV-RNA in the blood of MC patients. The presence of the HCV genome in the blood cells of individuals infected by HCV may correlate with the etiopathology of MC. We investigated the presence of HCV-related sequences in the sera, cryoglobulins and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with MC and of individuals with type C chronic active hepatitis (CAH). METHODS: 39 patients with MC, 11 non-cryoglobulinemic HCV-positive individuals with CAH, and 2 anti-HCV negative controls were included in the study. The presence of HCV-RNA was detected by nested RT-PCR and by a commercial kit. The PCR was performed by amplifying the 5'-non coding region (5'-NCR) of HCV. RESULTS: HCV-RNA was detected in the sera and cryoglobulins of about 90% of the patients; the commercial kit showed a higher sensitivity than nested PCR. One MC patient showed HCV-RNA only in the cryoglobulins. HCV-RNA was present in the PBMC of 14 of the 20 (70%) MC patients analyzed. No differences in serum and PBMC HCV-RNA positivity were found between MC patients and controls. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the spread of HCV infection among patients with MC. HCV-RNA is present in the serum, cryoglobulins and PBMC of a large proportion of MC patients. The prevalence of HCV-RNA in the PBMC of MC patients and controls did not differ significantly; this may suggest a tropism of HCV for PBMC regardless of the presence of cryoglobulinemia.

Base Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Classification of the cryoglobulinemic syndrome.

As cryoprecipitation is a laboratory artifact, it is necessary to identify those patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia who actually have the cryoglobulinemic syndrome. In certain cases, although by no means frequently, mixed cryoglobulins are associated with a vasculitis that produces a spectrum of manifestations resembling those of experimental serum sickness. Therefore, we propose a set of criteria to be used as the starting point for establishing a definitive diagnosis. The next step in the classification of cryoglobulinemic syndromes is to define the primary or secondary nature of the disease process and the mono- or polyclonal nature of the rheumatoid factor. Finally, the extent of the vasculitis must be assessed by screening for liver and renal involvement and peripheral neuropathy. Despite the high prevalence of HCV markers in both the primary and secondary forms, we believe our classification is useful for characterizing groups of patients with different diseases and different prognoses.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Colchicine in the treatment of mixed cryoglobulinemia.

OBJECTIVE: The best treatment for cryoglobulinemic syndrome (CS) is still an unsolved problem. Recently colchicine has been successfully used to treat vasculitides and other immune-mediated diseases. Therefore, we undertook to treat 17 CS patients with colchicine (1 mg/day for 6-48 months), 8 of them with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) and 9 with CS secondary to liver disease. METHODS: In all patients the clinical and laboratory features were evaluated at the beginning of the study and during the first 6-12 months; 10 cases were followed for a longer period (18-48 months). RESULTS: During the first period symptoms improved as follows: purpura in 15 of 17 patients, weakness in 9 of 14 and leg ulcers in 3 of 5. Hepatic and renal function tests, hypocomplementemia, rheumatoid factor (RF) titres and the cryocrit also improved. Prolonged follow-up showed a relapse in the different variables, although they remained at better levels than at the beginning. Only the cryocrit showed a further reduction. CONCLUSION: Though this was a preliminary open study it shows that colchicine is an efficient treatment in CS and suggests that a controlled clinical study should be performed to assess its real value.

Adult↗