Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) in a case of chronic hepatitis C--successful treatment with interferon alpha

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection has previously been shown to be associated in some cases with an immunologic disorder called "Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia" (EMC). In this report a case of transfusion-associated chronic hepatitis C will be demonstrated. During patient's follow-up over a period of fifteen years the woman developed symptoms consistent with the clinical triad of EMC: general weakness, polyarthralgias and purpura. Laboratory chemical values support the presence of mixed cryoglobulins. Application of different therapeutic strategies revealed an improvement of both clinical and biochemical findings during interferon-alpha treatment. Results suggest that during chronic hepatitis C virus infection interferon-alpha therapy may represent the elective choice of treatment for typical symptoms of EMC.