Frequency of hepatitis C in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection has been explained as a disease that sometimes present with rheumatic manifestations indistinguishable from rheumatoid arthritis. This study has been performed to evaluate the frequency of hepatitis C virus infection in a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, during one year, serum samples collected from two hundred consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis in all affiliated hospitals of Shaheed Beheshti University, MC., were examined for anti-HCV antibody and HCV-RNA by ELISA and RT-PCR method, respectively. Using a questionnaire, the frequency of HCV infection, age and sex distribution, duration of rheumatoid arthritis, associated immune mediated disorders and risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection were assessed. A total of 200 patients [M/F=26/174] who were mainly aged 51-70 years were studied. The frequency of HCV was found to be 2% [95%CI: 0.6-7%]. All of the infected persons have had a low risk occupation in terms of exposure to the virus and none of them had HCV risk factors. No associated immune mediated disorder was found in HCV infected patients. Our results did not support any contribution of HCV infection in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthriti

Study of the role of parvo virus B19 in arthropathies of egyptian adult cases

This work was done to assess the relation between HPV B19 infection and arthropathies in Egyptian adults cases. For this purpose 40 rheumatoid arthritis [RA] cases, 10 osteoarthritis cases and 10 systemic lupus erythematosus [SLE] cases were selected to represent different types of arthropathies. The selection of cases was based on clinical diagnosis and laboratory tests [ESR, Hb level, Rose waller, detection of antinuclear antibodies and detection of hidden rheumatoid factor]. HPV B19 IgM and IgG were searched for by ELISA test in their sera as indicator of the state of HPV B19 infection. A control group was also included in this study, as 30 healthy persons with no previous complaint of rheumatic symptoms. HPV B19 IgM was detected in 60% of patients with RA, 40% of osteoarthritis cases and none of the SLE cases. Positive cases were more among females with long duration of illness affecting both big and small joints. These results indicated a possible causal association between acute HPV B19 and arthropathy. As regards HPV B19 IgG, it was detected in 57% of RA cases, 60% of osteoarthritis cases and 40% of SLE. The difference in IgG was statistically insignificant from the control group [46.7%]. The presence of HPV B19 IgG antibodies indicates previous exposure to the virus but does not indicate its time. Detection of HPV B19 IgM or rising titer of HPV B19 IgG may lead to early diagnosis of HPV B19 arthropathies

HTLV-I associated uveitis, myelopathy, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome

Uma mulher branca de 62 anos foi internada apresentado história de paraparesia lentamente progressiva durante 10 anos. Dois meses antes da internaçao ela apresentou uveíte anterior nao granulomatosa bilateral. Poucos anos após início dos sintomas neurológicos, ela desenvolveu artrite migratória com edema dos joelhos e dor à palpaçao dos joelhos e dedos dos pés, boca, pele e olhos secos. Ao exame físico foi observado paraparesia espástica com sinal de Babisnski positivo, sensibilidade diminuída abaixo de L3, diminuiçao da sensaçao de vibraçao nas extremidades inferiores, e tremor postural dos membros superiores. Apresentou testes positivos para o HTVL-I no sangue. O estudo da velocidade da conduçao dos nervos foi normal. Este caso mostra a associaçao de uveíte, artrite e síndrome de Sjö em uma paciente com paraparesia espástica tropical (HTLV-I) associada a mielopatia (TSP/HAM), ilustra o largo espectro das manifestaçoes clínicas que podem acompanhar a infecçao por este vírus.

Prevalence of hepatitic C virus antibodies in chronic liver disease, hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and rheumatoid arthritis

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus [Anti-HCV] has been measured using HCV EIA 2 second generation test in 97 patients with chronic liver disease [CLD], hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] and rheumatoid arthritis [RA]. 45 normal subjects served as control. 46.15% of 39 patients with CLD were positive for anti-HCV, while 64.7% of 17 patients with hepatitis showed positive antibodies to HCV. In HCC, 60% of 15 patients were positive to anti-HCV. Interestingly, 36.4% of 26 patients with RA having positive rheumatoid factor showed positive antibodies to HCV and 11.1% of normal controls were positive to anti-HCV. HBsAg was positive in 20.5% in CLD and in 47% in hepatitis group, while 40% of HCC patients showed positive HBsAg. Low prevalence of HBsAg was found in RA and controls [3.8% and 4.4% respectively]. Our study revealed that HCV has a role in causation of hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease in our locality. Also, cross-reactivity between antibodies to HCV and other antibodies [rheumatoid factors] may occur