Background & Aims: Prevalence of serum autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients is higher than that in the general population. Interferon may induce autoimmune manifestations in patients treated with peg-interferon and ribavirin. Effect of autoantibody seropositivity and treatment response are limited and controversial. To detect the prevalence of serum autoantibodies in patients with chronic HCV and impact on histopathology and treatment response.
Methods: Retrospective study including 3673 Egyptian chronic HCV naïve patients enrolled in the Egyptian national programme for HCV treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in the years 2007-2010. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was determined by ELISA considered positive with a titre ≥ 1:40 by indirect immunofluorescence. ANA-positive patients pre treatment workup including serum aminotransferases, thyroid profile and liver biopsy, follow-up during treatment and sustained virological response (SVR) were assessed compared to ANA-negative patients.
Results: Serum ANA was positive in 1.6% of the studied patients. There were no statistically significant differences concerning the demographic, biochemical and histopathological data in ANA positive and negative patients. SVR was comparable between ANA-positive and ANA-negative patients (67.8% and 61.3% respectively). Follow-up treatment; ANA-positive patients' did not experience statistically significant haematological complications, flare-up of serum transaminases, thyroid dysfunction. No systemic autoimmune disorders developed during follow-up.
Conclusions: ANA positivity is not a factor in chronic HCV disease progression and does not affect the treatment response. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy is safe and effective in autoantibodies-positive chronic HCV patients with no need for further follow-up or worry during the treatment in absence of systemic autoimmune disorders.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/liv.12227 | DOI Listing |
Curr Issues Mol Biol
December 2024
Laboratory of Immunology and Human Leukocyte Antigen, Center of Clinical Research, Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech 40080, Morocco.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major health burdens worldwide. Its course depends on the virus itself and the host's immune responses. The latter are conditioned by immunogenetic factors, in particular human leukocyte antigens (HLAs), whose role in determining the outcome of infection varies according to populations and ethnic groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfect Dis Ther
December 2024
Division of Tropical Medicine and Epidemiology, Division of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Gdansk, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, 81-519, Gdynia, Poland.
Introduction: Despite achieving sustained viral response (SVR) after treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the risk of liver disease progression and extrahepatic complications in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains. We aimed to determine the role of residual HCV-RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), a condition known as occult hepatitis C (OCI), and systemic inflammatory markers as predictors of long-term outcomes in patients treated with DAAs.
Methods: We followed 42 patients treated with DAAs with OCI status determined after therapy, for a median of 6.
Prev Med
December 2024
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Introduction: Blood-based tests represent a compelling option for early detection and management of cancers and other chronic diseases. While they may increase patient engagement, assumptions about greater adherence in clinical practice need further evaluation. This systematic review aimed to evaluate real-world adherence to established blood-based tests for commonly recommended screening indications to inform expectations for average-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAliment Pharmacol Ther
December 2024
Department of Medical Sciences, Liver Unit, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Clin Mol Hepatol
December 2024
Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Comprehensive Transplant Center, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global burden, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. HCC due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or C virus (HCV) infection has decreased due to universal vaccination for HBV and effective antiviral therapy for both HBV and HCV, but HCC related to metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is increasing. Biannual liver ultrasonography and serum α-fetoprotein are the primary surveillance tools for early HCC detection among high-risk patients (e.
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