Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia

Abstract

EMANUELE MARZO, PIER VITTORIO FOSELLA, GIAMPIERO PASERO. and STEFAN0 BOMBARDIER1The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCVAb) was investigated in 52 unselected patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and in 84 patients with other systemic immunologic diseases. HCVAb were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their specificity was evaluated by a recombinant-based immunoblot assay. The presence of HBV-related markers was investigated in the same samples. HCVAb were found in 54% of mixed cryoglobulinemia patients, and the finding was confirmed by recombinant-based immunoblot assay in all cases. HCVAb and/or HBV markers were present in 70% of the patients. HCVAb seropositivity was significantly more frequent in mixed cryoglobulinemia patients with biopsy-proven liver involvement (P < 0.01) and with increased serum transaminase levels (P < 0.01). HCVAb were virtually absent in control patients with other immunologic diseases. These results support the notion that viral agents, i.e., HCV and possibly HBV, have a role in the pathogenesis of mixed cryoglobulinemia patients.

Lacrimal Gland Marginal Zone Lymphoma: Regression after Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…HCV has been detected not only within the infected hepatocytes, but also in blood cells, such as lymphocytes (17). HCV infection is also demonstrated nearly universally in patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, which is a low-grade lymphoproliferative disorder (18,19). HCV virus has been shown to sustain clonal expansion of B lymphocytes in HCV-infected patients (6).…”

Extrahepaticus manifesztációk idült hepatitis C-vírus-fertőzöttekben

“…A kevert cryoglobulinaemiás betegek 70-100%-a anti-HCV-pozitív [14,15]. Cryoglobulinok a HCV-fertőzöttek 40-60%-ában mutathatók ki [8], a betegek 10-15%-ában alakul ki szisztémás, a kis artériákat és vénákat érintő vasculitis [8,16,17].…”

Patients with Mixed Cryoglobulinemia and HCV Infection, in Presence or Absence of Autoimmune Thyroiditis, Have High Serum Levels of (CXC MOTIF) Ligand (CXCL)9 and CXCL11 Chemokines

“…The diagnosis ofMC was based on the presence of serum mixed (IgG-lgM) cryoglobulins and the classical clinical triad -purpura, weakness, arthralgias -and on the exclusion of other well-known systemic disorders, such as immuno-rheumatic, neoplastic, and infectious diseases (12,13). HCY infection was systematically evaluated in all patients, and HCY negative were excluded.…”

“…MC type II or MC type III); haemolytic complement activity (CH50) and C3-C4 fractions were measured as previously described (12); anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-smooth muscle (ASMA), and anti-mitochondrial (AMA) autoantibodies were detected by current techniques (12). Sera with a titre> 1:40 were considered positive.…”