Antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia

TLDR

The study examined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies in 52 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia compared with 84 patients with other systemic immunologic diseases. HCV antibodies were detected by ELISA and confirmed by recombinant immunoblot, while hepatitis B markers were also assessed in the same samples. HCV antibodies were present in 54 % of mixed cryoglobulinemia patients (confirmed by immunoblot) and in 70 % of all patients when HBV markers were included; they were significantly more frequent in those with liver involvement or elevated transaminases and virtually absent in control patients, supporting a viral role in disease pathogenesis.

Abstract

Abstract The 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.