Rheumatic manifestations and autoimmune profile in hepatitis C virus infected patients

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and frequency of rheumatic manifestations and serological markers of autoimmunity in HCV patients and the correlation of rheumatic manifestations with liver affection and autoimmune profile. Seventy-five patients [50 males and 25 females] with anti-HCV antibodies and 25 controls [16 males and 9 females] with no anti-HCV antibodies were studied. The mean age of the studied patients was 46.5 years +/- 10.8 [ranged from 26 - 70 years]. They were subjected to full history, thorough clinical examination and radiological and laboratory investigations. Autoimmune profile cryoglobulin, rheumatoid factor [RF], antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies [perinuclear and cytoplasmic, PANCA and CANCA], antinuclear antibodies [ANA], antismooth muscles antibodies [ASM], anticardiolipin antibodies IgG, ImG and IgA [ACLIgG, ACLIgM and ALCIgA], anti-liver kidney microsomal antibodies [LKM-1], anti Ro and La antibodies, polymerase chain reaction [PCR-RNA] and complement -3 and 4 [C3, C4] were tested. In conclusion, a high frequency of rheumatic manifestations and autoimmune markers in HCV infected patients was found. An investigation of risk factors for HCV infection is pertinent in a patient presenting new rheumatic manifestations. The most frequent mode of rheumatic illness in patients with HCV is dry eye and or dry mouth [Sjogren syndrome]. Hence, it is better to do ELISA as routine investigation in patients with dry eye and or dry mouth