Korean J Clin Pathol.  1997 Dec;17(6):1100-1108.

Prevalence of Hepatitis C Antibody in Patients with Cryoglobulinemia

• Park PW
• Kim TY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mixed cryoglobulinemia occurs predominantly in association with chronic liver diseases, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Mixed cryoglobulinemia has been classified as essential if no primary disease is identified. Recently, mixed cryoglobulinemia has been reported in cases of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in foreign countries, but there have been few reports on the subject In our country. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical features of HCV infection in patients with cryoglobuline mia in Korea.
METHODS
Eighty-five patients with detectable serum cryoglobulin were studied between June 1996 and January 1997 at Hanyang university Hospital. Anti-HCV antibodies (Ab) were tested In all patients by particle agglutination method (ASAN HCV. PA Kit) and confirming a positive results, were tested by the microparticle enzyme immunoassay method (IMx, Abbott). Medical records were analyzed retrospectively to compare the clinical features between anti-HCV Ab positive and anti-HCV Ab negative patients.
RESULTS
Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 12 out of 85 (about 14%) patients with cryoglobulinemia. Six of these patients were diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis and 4 as osteoarthritis, and 2 as fibromyalgia syndrome. Nine of the 12 patients had no remarkable abnormalities in their liver function test results and there were no statistical differences between anti-HCV _Lb positive and negative groups. There were no meaningful differences between the two groups in immunologic data such as rheumatoid factor, C reactive protein, antinuclear antibody, and antiperinuclear factor.
CONCLUSIONS
We found the association of HCV infection and cryglobulin in Korean patients with cryoglobulinemia and recommend routine anti-HCV Ab testing in patients with cryoglobulinemia even if they have normal liver function test results.

MeSH Terms

Agglutination
Antibodies, Antinuclear
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Autoimmune Diseases
C-Reactive Protein
Cryoglobulinemia*
Fibromyalgia
Hepatitis C Antibodies
Hepatitis C*
Hepatitis*
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Korea
Liver Diseases
Liver Function Tests
Medical Records
Osteoarthritis
Prevalence*
Retrospective Studies
Rheumatoid Factor
Antibodies, Antinuclear
C-Reactive Protein
Hepatitis C Antibodies
Rheumatoid Factor