Smooth muscle antibodies and cryoglobulinemia are associated with advanced liver fibrosis in Brazilian hepatitis C virus carriers
Braz. j. infect. dis
; 15(1): 66-68, Jan.-Feb. 2011. ilus
Article
in En
| LILACS
| ID: lil-576788
Responsible library:
BR1.1
ABSTRACT
Cryoglobulinemia and non-organ-specific-autoantibody are biomarkers of autoimmunity of the chronic infection caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV). In this work, we report the association between the presence of smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) and cryoglobulinemia and chronic liver disease in HCV carriers. Sixty-five untreated HCV patients, 38 women and 27 men were included in this study. Cryoglobulinemia was tested by cryoprecipitation, SMA by indirect fluorescent antibody test, and liver fibrosis and hepatocellular inflammation activity was investigated by histology of liver biopsy using the METAVIR score. The prevalence of SMA in the patients was 33.8 percent and cryoglobulinemia was demonstrated in 36.9 percent patients. Cryoglobulinemia and SMA seropositivity was associated with advanced fibrosis (p < 0.05). The presence of SMA and cryoglobulinemia was not associated with hepatocellular inflammation activity, age, carrier gender or HCV genotype. We concluded that liver biopsy should be recommended for HCV carriers that are seropositive for SMA or cryoglobulinemia.
Key words
Full text:
1
Index:
LILACS
Main subject:
Autoantibodies
/
Autoimmunity
/
Hepatitis C, Chronic
/
Cryoglobulinemia
/
Liver Cirrhosis
/
Muscle, Smooth
Type of study:
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do sul
/
Brasil
Language:
En
Journal:
Braz. j. infect. dis
Journal subject:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Year:
2011
Type:
Article