RESUMO
To determine the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies in Kuwait and its association with chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection. Methodology: Serum protein electrophoresis and measurement of immunoglobulin levels were carried out prospectively in 100 consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection. Among the 100 patients tested [82 males, 18 females; median age 45 years], 59 had polyclonal band in serum protein electrophoresis while the other 41 had a normal pattern. None of the patients had monoclonal gammopathy. The mean serum immunoglobulin levels were: IgG 18.4 g/l [range 4-39], IgA 2.9 g/l [range 0.09-8] and IgM 1.6 g/l [range 0.14-6.08]. There was no evidence of monoclonal gammopathies in patients with chronic HCV infection in Kuwait