CXCL10 and CCL2 serum levels in patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia and hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND:No study evaluates serum levels of CXCL10 and CCL2 chemokines in patients with hepatitis C associated mixed cryoglobulinaemia. AIMS:To measure circulating CXCL10 and CCL2 in cryoglobulinaemic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS:Serum CXCL10 and CCL2 were assayed in 70 consecutive cryoglobulinaemic patients, and in 2 control groups (1:1, gender- and age-matched) of healthy (controls), or of chronic hepatitis C subjects without cryoglobulinaemia. RESULTS:Cryoglobulinaemic patients showed higher CXCL10 serum levels than controls (p193 pg/ml), 79% of cryoglobulinaemic patients, 5% of the controls and 69% of hepatitis C patients had high CXCL10 (p<0.0001). CXCL10 levels were (p<0.01) increased in cryoglobulinaemic patients with active vasculitis, with respect to those without (445+/-108, 339 +/- 161 pg/ml, respectively). Cryoglobulinaemic patients showed significantly higher CCL2 serum level than controls (p