Significance of iomantibody to hepatitis C virus in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on 30 patients suffering from chronic HCV infection. It was found that the frequency of IgM anti-HCV in these patients was 43.3%. The frequency was 54.5% and 36% in patients with and those without schistosomal ova, respectively. This difference was statistically insignificant. Presence or absence of IgM-HCV did not affect liver functions in studied patients. 6 patients in this study showed normal liver functions, while liver biopsy showed chronic persistent hepatitis and unresolved hepatitis in 66.8% of them. Also, IgM anti-HCV could be documented in any one of them. There was significant correlation between severity of liver pathology and presence of IgM-HCV. IgM-HCV was present in 55.6% of patients with chronic active hepatitis [CAH] with or without cirrhosis, while IgM-HCV was present in only 30% of patients with chronic persistent hepatitis [CPH] and unresolved hepatitis. Liver function tests did not reflect the severity of underlying liver pathology in patients with chronic HGV infection. Presence or absence of schistosomal ova did not affect frequency of detection of IgM-HCV in patients with chronic HCV infection. Presence of IgM-HCV usually associated with severe underlying liver pathology [CAH + cirrhosis]