Anti-Clq antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

K.E. Sherman¹  G.Q. Shen¹  D.W. Lienesch¹  A. Metzger¹ 

关键词: MeSH;    HCV;    anti-Clq antibody;    autoimmunity.;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: Pacini Editore SpA

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVES: Extrahepatic autoinunune features of HCV infection include autoantibody production and the development of mixed cryoglobulinemia. Anti-Clq antibody, detected with high frequency in systemic lupus erythematosus and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, may have a direct pathogenic role in complement mediated autoimmune diseases. In this study, we investigate the prevalence of anti-Clq antibody in a population of patients with chronic HCV infection. METHODS: Serum was obtained from a group of 50 patients with chronic HCV infection and control groups comprised of patients with SLE, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma (PSS), Sjögren`s syndrome (SS), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and healthy individuals.RESULTS:Anti-Clq antibody was detected in 38% of HCV patients compared with 2% of healthy controls (p <0.0001). Levels were also significantly elevated in patients with SLE (61%), RA (20%), PSS (15%), SS (15%) and MCTD (15%).CONCLUSIONS:In addition to numerous other autoantibodies, patients with chronic HCV infection exhibit increased production of anti-Clq IgG antibodies. This observation may have implications for the pathogenesis of the mixed cryoglobulinemic vasculitis syndrome.

【 授权许可】

Unknown