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WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Jan 05 - The prevalence of hepatitis
C virus (HCV) infection is higher in patients with systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) than in healthy control subjects, according
to a report published in the December issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.
Also, the usual clinical manifestations of SLE are different in
patients infected with HCV, the authors state.
Dr. Josep Font and colleagues from the University of Barcelona
in Spain studied the prevalence and clinical significance of HCV
infection in 134 consecutive SLE patients and 200 healthy subjects.
The authors found that HCV infection was present in 11% of SLE
patients and in 1% of healthy subjects. Compared with SLE patients
without infection, HCV-infected SLE patients had a lower frequency
of cutaneous manifestations and anti-double-stranded DNA positivity.
These infected patients, however, had a higher frequency of hepatic
involvement, cryoglobulinemia, and low C4 and CH50 levels.
The current study represents the largest series of SLE patients
ever analyzed for HCV infection, the researchers point out. The
findings also "suggest a possible link between HCV infection and
SLE."
Based on their results, the investigators divided SLE patients
with anti-HCV antibodies into three groups: 1) Patients with a false-positive
result on the antibody assay; 2) Patients with HCV infection and
"true" SLE; and 3) Patients with a "lupus-like syndrome" that may
have been caused by HCV infection.
"We suggest that HCV testing should be considered in the diagnosis
of SLE, especially in patients without" typical SLE manifestations,
the authors state. "Conversely, patients with chronic HCV infection
and extra-hepatic features mimicking SLE should be tested for the
presence of antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-stranded DNA."
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