Sofosbuvir–daclatasvir improves hepatitis C virus–induced mixed cryoglobulinemia: Upper Egypt experience

Introduction

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is considered one of the major worldwide health challenges, with an estimated prevalence of more than 177.5 million of HCV-infected adults.¹ Egypt is among the countries with the highest prevalence of HCV in the world, with 5.3 million persons testing positive for HCV antibodies, of whom 3.7 million were HCV-RNA positive.²

HCV infection has been recognized as a common cause of mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), which could be asymptomatic, and circulating mixed cryoglobulins have been detected in 40%–60% of patients with chronic HCV.^3,4 The exact mechanism by which HCV induces MC is still undetermined but may be related to the continuity of HCV in the immune cells and/or chronic immune response stimulation by HCV.⁵ Human leukocyte antigens may also be involved.⁶

MC is characterized by the detection of abnormal proteins, called cryoglobulins, because they are reversibly precipitated in serum below 37°C.⁷ These cryoprecipitable immune complexes are deposited in small- and medium-sized blood vessels, resulting in systemic vasculitis. MC is classified into type I (exclusive IgM monoclonal), type II (IgM monoclonal and IgG polyclonal), and type III (exclusively IgG polyclonal).⁸ Cryoglobulins of types II and III (antigen-antibody complexes) are accompanied by rheumatoid factor (RF), complement activation with subsequent complement consumption, and thereby cause vasculitis^9,10 while type I is not accompanied by RF or immune complexes, and thus there is no activation of complement, resulting in lower incidence of vasculitis.¹¹ The role of RF in the immune response is undetermined, but it could participate in immune complex clearance by making complexes larger and activating the complement.¹¹

In HCV infection, MC is one of the most frequent extrahepatic manifestations and can cause variable clinical presentations in the form of purpura, weakness, arthralgia, neuropathies, glomerulonephritis, and involvement of other organs.¹²

Before the advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), interferon (IFN)-based regimens produced clinical recovery with subsequent improvement of MC as a result of HCV clearance; however, the side effects of IFN may mimic the MC manifestations, and the relapse rate with IFN-based regimens was high.¹³ Boglione et al¹⁴ reported a study on the treatment of HCV-MC with IFN-free regimens, with or without ribavirin, and concluded that IFN-free regimens were effective and well tolerated in treating HCV-MC and significantly promoted a decrease in cryoglobulins.

There are few data regarding the effect of sofosbuvir–daclatasvir regimen on hepatitis C–related MC, that is increasingly important. Therefore, the present study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of sofosbuvir–daclatasvir as DAAs on symptomatic MC and the percentage of sustained virologic response (SVR) using such combined DAAs therapy among chronic HCV-infected patients.

Patients and methods

Study design and participants

The present prospective cohort study was conducted on 120 chronic HCV-infected patients with the clinical inclusion criteria for MC,¹⁵ purpura, arthralgia, and asthenia (Meltzer’s triad), and only 63 patients were found positive for circulating cryoglobulins with a definite diagnosis of MC, on whom the study has been completed. The patients were recruited from Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Departments and Internal Medicine Departments, Qena and Al-Azhar University (Assiut branch) Hospitals-Egypt, which are major tertiary referral centers in Upper Egypt, after obtaining ethical approval from the University Hospital Ethics Committee and an informed written consent from every included patient. This was in addition to 20 – age and sex matched – healthy volunteers selected as controls, on whom serum cryoglobulins assays were done to be comparable with the patients. The study period was from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2018. All patients were diagnosed and treated with sofosbuvir 400 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg ± ribavirin (800–1,200 mg) once daily for 3 months. Patients were treated according to the Egyptian protocol for treatment of chronic HCV virus infection, which depends on the European Association for the Study of the Liver 2015 guidelines for HCV infection treatment.¹⁶ Pregnancy or presence of dynamic CT imaging of HCC or uncontrolled DM; HbA1c >9%, were excluded from the study. All patients were subjected to complete history taking and full clinical examination including Child-Pugh score and manifestations of MC.

Investigatory workup

• Six milliliter of venous blood was collected from each patient and control under aseptic precautions, of which 2 mL of blood was placed in EDTA containing a vacutainer tube to obtain a complete blood picture in the automated hematology analyzer cell dyne-1800 (Abbott Diagnostics, Lake Forest, IL, USA). Four milliliters of blood was taken in a plain glass tube, and after clotting, the tube was centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 5 min. Then, the serum was separated for use in estimating liver function (including liver enzymes, albumin, bilirubin-total and direct, prothrombin time, prothrombin concentration, and INR), serum creatinine, protein:creatinine ratio, and RF using Cobas c311 automated chemistry analyzer (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany). HBs Ag, HIV antibody, anti-HCV, HCV-RNA levels, cryoglobulins, and complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) serum assays were done. eGFR was calculated using the Mayo Clinic Quadratic Equation,¹⁷ and urine analysis was done for the included patients.
• RF was measured using an immunoturbidimetric assay kit based on the immunological agglutination principle with enhancement of the reaction by latex, supplied by Roche Diagnostics, catalog No. c501/502. The normal reference range is 0–20 IU/mL.
• Anti-HCV, HBs Ag and HIV antibody testing were performed using commercially available assays (Abbott Laboratories, Abbot Park, IL, USA).
• HCV-RNA was detected by a PCR assay (Cobas Amplicor Roche Molecular Systems Inc., Branchburg, NJ, USA), and serum HCV-RNA levels were quantified by the Cobas Ampli Prep/Cobas TaqMan HCV-RNA assay (Roche Diagnostics) with a lower detection limit at 15 IU/mL.
• The biochemical assessments of cryoglobulin levels C3 and C4 were done using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits according to the manufacturer’s protocol; these kits were supplied by Chongqing Biospes Co., Ltd., Chongqing, People’s Republic of China, catalog no. (BYEK2304, BYEK1247, BYEK1247), respectively, using ELISA Multiskan EX Microplate Photometer [STAT FAX-2100; Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA]. The normal reference ranges for C3 and C4 are 90–180 and 10–40 mg/dL, respectively.
• Fibroscan assessments of the liver fibrotic state,¹⁸ using a fibroscan (FS-502 touch device, Echosens, Paris, France), were done to all included patients, yielding the extent of hepatic fibrosis in a semiquantitative manner as F0-F4.
• All the previously mentioned investigatory workups, in addition to the evaluation of the clinical manifestations of MC, were done to the included patients before starting therapy, at the 12th and 24th weeks posttreatment.
• Renal biopsy for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination was done in patients with clinically suspected glomerulonephritis (proteinuria, hematuria, and/or reduced [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) to confirm the diagnosis of HCV-associated cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis.

Therapeutic efficacy points

The judging points regarding the efficacy¹⁹ of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in improving the condition of HCV-MC patients were as follows:

1. Clinical improvement of the presenting cryglobulinemic-related manifestations.
2. SVR12, which is defined as undetectable HCV-RNA levels 12 weeks after cessation of treatment.²⁰
3. Disappearance of cryoglobulins in serum.

According to the presence or absence of the 3 previously mentioned criteria, the effect of the used DAAs can be classified into 3 types: complete response if all 3 parameters have been achieved, partial response if SVR12 and SVR24 with either of the remaining 2, and no response if none of the 3 parameters have been achieved.

Statistical analysis

The data were coded and verified prior to data entry. Computer program Statistical Package for Social Sciences (ver.21) (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for analyzing the collected data and for drawing figures. Data were expressed as mean ± SD and numbers as percentage. Student’s t-test was used to determine the significance of the numeric variable. P-value is considered significant if P<0.05 and not significant if P>0.05.

Results

Among the 120 included naïve chronic HCV-infected patients with a clinical suspicion of having MC, 57 patients were found negative for cryoglobulins, with their quantitative data of cryoglobulinemia as follows (mean ± SD of serum cryoglobulins, C3, C4, and RF were 3.5±2.12 µg/mL, 97.3±12.7 mg/dL, 21.5±3.2 mg/dL, and 5.7±2.8 IU/mL, respectively). These 57 were excluded from the study, and the study was completed on the 63 patients who proved to have MC by testing positive for serum cryoglobulins. The mean age of the included HCV-MC patients was 54.2 years ±8.4 SD; 38 (60.32%) of them were females. All the included patients received the sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapeutic regimen. From the relative frequencies of the presenting clinical manifestations shown in Table 1, peripheral neuropathy was the most frequent manifestation. Bilateral purpuric lower limb skin lesions due to HCV-MC–induced vasculitis on one of the included patients are shown in Figure 1. Regarding the fibroscan assessments of the cryopositive patients included, 17 (27%) of them were F0-F1, 25 (40%) were F2, 13 (20.5%) were F3, and 8 (12.5%) were F4 with evidence of cirrhosis.

Figure 1 Bilateral purpuric lower limb skin lesions due to HCV-MC–induced vasculitis in one of the included patients. Abbreviation: HCV-MC, hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinemia.

Table 1 Relative frequencies of the presenting clinical manifestations and effect of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy in patients with HCV-MC Notes: aPatient may present with more than 1 manifestation. Meltzer’s triad (purpura, arthralgia, asthenia). Abbreviation: HCV-MC, hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinemia.

The mean serum levels of cryoglobulins among HCV-MC was 41.47 µg/mL ±12.32 SD versus 3.33 µg/mL ±1.51 SD among the controls with significant difference (P<0.001) (Figure 2).

Figure 2 The mean serum levels (μg/mL) of cryoglobulins in controls and among HCV-MC patients pretherapy and 12 and 24 weeks posttherapy with sofosbuvir and daclatasvir regimen. Abbreviation: HCV-MC, hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinemia.

Regarding the clinical effects of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy on HCV-MC, which are shown in Table 1, the patients showed significant improvement in their clinical manifestations, especially those presenting with peripheral neuropathy and purpura. Eighty-seven percent of the patients showed complete clinical, virological, and immunological remission, and the remaining 13% showed partial remission in the form of persistence of clinical manifestations with virological and immunological recovery.

The effect of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy on Child-Pugh score, liver fibroscan, and the laboratory measures among HCV-MC, including viral load, serum cryoglobulins, C3, C4, and RF before 12 and 24 weeks posttherapy, are presented in Table 2, showing significant improvement in Child-Pugh score and liver fibroscan status. There were also significant improvements in hemoglobin levels from 12.49 g/dL ±1.08 SD to 13.09 g/dL ±1.1 SD, platelet counts from 179.17×10³/µL ±84.7 SD to 201.64×10³/µL ±88.02 SD, and liver functions, serum creatinine and eGFR. The mean serum cryoglobulins decreased significantly from 41.47 µg/mL ±12.32 SD to 5.12 µg/mL ±3.59 SD (Figure 2), with a significant increase in the serum levels of C3 and C4 and a significant decline in RF (Table 2). Also, the quantitative HCV-RNA levels decreased from 1.008×10⁶ IU/mL ±0.912×10⁶ SD to undetectable levels (<16 IU/mL) in all the included patients. Repeated measurements of both serum cryoglobulins and viral load at the 24th week posttherapy showed SVR (continuity of undetectable levels for HCV-RNA) in all the included patients (100%) with no relapse increase in the serum cryoglobulins, although some patients continue to have persistent clinical manifestations.

Table 2 The effect of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir therapy on Child-Pugh score, liver fibroscan, and the laboratory measures among HCV-MC Notes: *P<0.05 indicates significant difference. P1 = before therapy versus 12 weeks posttherapy; P2 = before therapy versus 24 weeks posttherapy. Student’s t-test was used. Abbreviation: HCV-MC, hepatitis C virus mixed cryoglobulinemia; WBC, white blood cell count; PLT, platelet count; HGB, hemoglobin concentration; ALT, alanine transaminase; AST, aspartate transaminase; PT, prothrombin time; PC, prothrombin concentration; INR, international normalization ratio.

Discussion

MC has been associated with a variety of viral infections, and chronic HCV infection is a recognizable major cause.²¹ The attribution of cryoglobulinemia to HCV represents a successful association in immunology, microbiology, and the clinical medicine field.²² The prevalence of HCV infection–induced MC in the Mediterranean Basin is about 90%, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1.²³ Our study found that HCV patients proven to have MC showed female predominance, and this was in line with Mohammed et al,²⁴ who reported that cryoglobulinemia was significantly more common in the female population with HCV.

Clinically, MC is characterized by the classic Meltzer’s triad of manifestations in the form of purpura, weakness, and arthralgia, with variable clinical spectrum from skin lesions in the form of recurrent purpura to renal damage and peripheral neuropathy.¹⁹ The incidence of neurological changes in HCV-MC may exceed 60%.²⁵ The association between HCV infection, the presence of cryoglobulinemia, and peripheral neuropathy is well documented²⁶ and is the result of ischemic nerve changes secondary to small vessel vasculitis or necrotizing arteritis of medium-sized vessels.²⁷ In the present study, peripheral neuropathy was the most frequent presentation among the included HCV-MC patients who have Meltzer’s triad, followed by purpura. This was in accordance with the findings of Migliaresi et al,²⁸ Zaltron et al,²⁹ Hegab and Sweilam,³⁰ and Bonacci et al.²⁰ In contrast, Lauletta et al³¹ reported Meltzer’s triad in 100% of their HCV-MC patients, with 18.1% having glomerulonephritis, while purpura and peripheral neuropathy had the same relative frequency (9.1%). This difference in frequency could be attributed to the difference in the number of patients included in every study. Neuropathy has been reported in HCV without cryglobulinemia,³² but with lower frequency and less severity.³³

Because the activity of MC usually correlates with viremia, therapy should be directed toward the potential causal agent.³⁴ The efficacy and safety of all oral DAAs therapy in HCV-MC are largely unknown,³⁵ and very few studies investigate the efficacy of sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens for HCV patients generally and for HCV-MC patients specifically. The results of the current study pertaining to the therapeutic efficacy of the combined use of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir as oral DAAs revealed 100% SVR12 and clearance of cryoglobulins, with significant improvements in Child-Pugh score, liver fibroscan status, hemoglobin levels, platelet counts, liver functions, and eGFR and creatinine levels, with 87% of the included patients showing a complete response and 13% a partial response without any side effects (apparent clinical or laboratory abnormalities).This indicates the higher therapeutic efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in managing HCV-MC. In agreement with these findings, Sise et al³⁵ reported that 83% of HCV-MC patients showed SVR12 rates for sofosbuvir-based DAA regimens. Also, our findings were in line with Saadoun et al³⁶ and Bonacci et al,²⁰ who reported an abrupt decay of HCV-RNA with DAAs with a rapid improvement of the clinical manifestations of MC that may allow the reduction or even cessation of the traditional immunosuppressive therapy. Gragnani et al³⁷ reported that IFN-free DAAs therapy was highly effective and safe for HCV-MC, with an overall 100% rate of clinical response of vasculitis. Emery et al³⁸ conclude in their study that DAAS resulted in high rates of SVR in HCV-MC with excellent safety. However, some of their patients did not have complete clinical or immunological response, suggesting a delay to clinical response, particularly in those with severe vasculitis, which could explain the partial response that occurred in 13% of the included patients observed in our study. This needed long-term follow-up after completion of treatment but was deficient in the present study.

Since serum RF levels are positive in most patients with cryoglobulinemia and the concentrations of RF correlate with cryoglobulin levels, serum RF concentration is routinely analyzed, and the results are included.¹¹ Our findings revealed significantly higher RF with significantly lower C3 and C4 serum levels among the included HCV-MC in comparison with the controls, with significant improvements in their level following DAAs. In line with our data, Boglione et al¹⁴ and Gragnani et al³⁷ reported similar findings.

Conclusion

MC should be considered if HCV-infected patients complaining from unexplained purpura, arthralgia, peripheral neuropathy, weakness, or renal affection, as extrahepatic manifestations are common, especially those related to MC. Chronic HCV-infected patients should be routinely investigated for serum cryoglobulins assay, even if asymptomatic. The present study confirms that DAAs, in the form of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir, are a treatment of choice for HCV infection and should be considered in cases of HCV-MC as they were associated with clinical improvement in most patients.

Study limitations

The lack of a long-term follow-up period after the completion of treatment is a major limitation of this study. Also, asymptomatic MC with HCV was not among the inclusion criteria. All these points need to be taken into consideration in further research.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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