Potthoff A, Witte T, Rifai K, Hoy L, Deterding K, Feyerabend S, Manns MP, Wedemeyer H. Prevalence of alpha-fodrin antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and Sjögren syndrome.
Scand J Gastroenterol 2010;
44:994-1003. [PMID:
19462335 DOI:
10.1080/00365520902929864]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) is associated with various extrahepatic manifestations. Antibodies against alpha-fodrin are associated with sicca symptoms and may valuable diagnostic markers in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (SS) lacking Ro antibodies. The frequency and role of alpha-fodrin antibodies in patients with chronic HCV infection are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of alpha-fodrin antibodies in HCV-infected patients with SS.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Alpha-fodrin antibodies were detected more often in hepatitis C patients (25%; n=142) than in HBV-infected individuals (8%; n=49) and healthy controls (6%; n=174) (p<0.01). Based on these findings, we investigated the frequency of sicca symptoms in a second cohort and studied other antibodies associated with SS.
RESULTS
HCV-infected individuals showed sicca symptoms in 53% of cases as determined by the Saxon and Schirmer tests, which was more frequent than in healthy controls (1%, p<0.01) but not in patients with autoimmune liver disease (51%). Antibodies specific for Ro (SS-A) were significantly more common in patients with autoimmune liver disease than in HCV-infected patients and healthy controls (16% versus 1% and 0%, p<0.003). SS was found in 18% of patients with HCV, in 15% of patients with autoimmune liver disease and in 1% of healthy controls. However, we found no correlation between sicca symptoms and the presence of antibodies against alpha-fodrin, Ro and La.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients with chronic HCV infection show a high prevalence of sicca symptoms and antibodies against alpha-fodrin. However, neither the frequency nor the severity of symptoms correlated with the presence of alpha-fodrin antibodies.
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