| Theme | Extrahepatic Manifestation in HCV Infection | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Chronic Hepatitis C and Cryoglobulinemia | |
| Publish Date | 1999/03 | |
| Author | Shinichi Kakumu | First Department of Internal Medicine, Aichi Medecal University |
| [ Summary ] | The hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated mixed cryoglobulins (CG) appears to often be detected in hepatitis C related chronic liver disease. However, the association of the two phenomenon among Japanese patients still remains uncertain. CG were detected in 37% of 65patients with type C chronic liver disease. The rate of prevalence rate appeared to be low compared with those reported in Western countries. Patients with CG had lower serum CH50 activity and higher immune complex levels than those without CG. CG consisted of polyclonal immunoglobulins in all but one case. In studies from Western countries, CG contained polyclonal and monoclonal Igs in half of the patients CG were more frequently observed in cirrhotic patients and in those with a longer duration of disease CG-related clinical signs such as vasculitis occurred in only four cases ; this rate also was low in comparison with those seen in Western studies. HCV-RNA and anti-HCV antibodies were detected in all cryoprecipitates tested. In conclusion, the characteristics of CG appeared to differ between Japanese and Western people infected with HCV. |
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