GISC protocol experience in the treatment of essential mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

OBJECTIVE

We compared the efficacy of interferon and deflazacort in the treatment of the cryoglobulinaemic syndrome and assessed the usefulness of adding a low antigen diet to drug therapy.

METHODS

We studied 63 patients randomly allocated to different groups who underwent clinical and laboratory examinations every two months and who received treatment for 12 months or until a significant clinical event appeared.

RESULTS

Five of 28 patients treated with interferon showed clinical improvement whereas 4 worsened and 7 suffered untoward side effects; seven of 28 patients treated with deflazacort improved, 4 worsened and 4 suffered drug toxicity. Twenty-nine patients were assigned to combined low antigen diet and therapy, among whom 7 did not follow the diet, 5 improved and 2 worsened. Among the 34 patients who were on an unrestrained diet, 5 improved and 7 worsened. None of the treatments proved superior to the others.

CONCLUSION

Our results do not confirm the suggestion that interferon should be the primary therapy in the treatment of the cryoglobulinaemic syndrome, and the usefulness of a low antigen diet seems minimal.