Hepatitis C virus infection mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus: Study of hepatitis C virus infection in a series of 134 Spanish patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

The prevalence of HCV infection in SLE patients was higher than in blood donors from the same geographic area. SLE HCV-positive patients showed a lower frequency of cutaneous SLE features and anti-dsDNA antibodies, and a higher prevalence of liver involvement, hypocomplementemia, and cryoglobulinemia. HCV testing should be considered in the diagnosis of SLE, especially in patients who lack the typical cutaneous features of SLE or who have low titers of autoantibodies, cryoglobulinemia, or liver involvement.