Medicina clinica
-
Castleman's disease (CD) encompasses a heterogeneous set of reactive lymphoproliferative processes that share well-defined histologic features. CD is considered a rare or minority disease. The incidence of CD is not fully known, although it is estimated at less than 1 per 100,000 inhabitants. ⋯ The incidence is similar in both sexes, although the unicentric variant seems to have a slight predominance in women with a 2:1 ratio. CD is classified into a hyalinovascular form (this being the most frequent) and a plasmocellular form, related to the HIV and VHH-8 viruses, which together with other autoimmune mechanisms develop hyperproduction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) by B lymphocytes. There are different lines of treatment, where the use of anti IL-6 stands out, being siltuximab the most used as orphan drug in this pathology.
-
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated as up 40-70% of patients with extrahepatic manifestations (EHM) and 36 different syndromes. These could be attributed to the fact that HCV is lymphotropic, particularly B lymphotropic, and not merely hepatotropic, and could trigger immunological alterations indirectly by exerting a chronic stimulus on the immune system with production of immunoglobulins having rheumatoid activity forming immune complexes and production of cryoglobulins. ⋯ The mainstay of treatment of EMH has been antivirals, since interferon era to direct-acting drugs era, with no differences between the two eras, despite the better virological response. Longer evaluation of virological response and clinical investigation with longer follow-ups are necessary.