Regression of lymphoproliferative disorder after treatment for hepatitis C virus infection in a patient with partial trisomy 3, Bcl-2 overexpression, and type II cryoglobulinemia

Blood. 2002 Mar 15;99(6):2259-61. doi: 10.1182/blood.v99.6.2259.

Abstract

A patient with type II cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presented with a leukemiclike proliferation of B cells bearing marginal zone B-cell phenotypic markers. A partial trisomy 3 (bands 3q11-29) and overexpression of Bcl-2 without t(14;18) translocation was detected in the monoclonal B cells that were classic rheumatoid factor-producing B cells bearing the WA cross-idiotype. Treatment with interferon-alpha produced a complete clinical remission and synchronous marked decreases in viremia and monoclonal B-cell prevalence. This is the first report of partial trisomy 3 and Bcl-2 overexpression in type II cryoglobulinemic vasculitis associated with HCV infection. Further studies of HCV-infected patients with and without type II cryoglobulinemia are required to determine the prevalence and possible physiologic and/or pathophysiologic significance of these findings.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3
  • Cryoglobulinemia / drug therapy
  • Cryoglobulinemia / etiology
  • Cryoglobulinemia / virology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / drug therapy
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / etiology
  • Lymphoproliferative Disorders / virology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trisomy
  • Vasculitis / drug therapy
  • Vasculitis / etiology
  • Vasculitis / virology

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2