Hepatitis C virus infection in `primary' Sjogren's syndrome: prevalence and clinical significance in a series of 90 patients

Abstract

Objectives-To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a large cohort of patients with 'primary' Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Methods-90 consecutive patients (83 female and seven male) were included, with a mean age of 62 years (range 31-80) who prospectively visited our unit. All patients fulfilled the European Community criteria for SS and underwent a complete history, physical examination, as well as biochemical and immunological evaluation for liver disease. Serum from all patients was tested for antibodies to HCV by third generation enzyme linked immunoassay and positivity was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Results-Antibodies to HCV were present in 13 (14%) patients with 'primary' SS. When compared with patients without HCV infection, patients with HCV infection presented a higher prevalence of hepatic involvement (100% v 8%, p < 0.05). Transcutaneous liver biopsy was performed in five patients with HCV infection, and specimens obtained showed in all cases a chronic active hepatitis with varying degrees of portal inflammation. Conclusion-HCV infection is frequent in patients with 'primary' SS and liver involvement is present in all these patients. The possible pathogenic role of HCV infection in these patients is still unclear.

Hepatitis C virus seroprevalence and genotypes in patients with diffuse connective tissue diseases and spondyloarthropathies

“…Although high anti-HCV rates have been observed in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis (10%) (4) and SS (14%) (5), in the present study, none of these patients was anti-HCV positive. Individuals with primary antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatic fever, systemic sclerosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis, MCTD, and spondyloarthropathy were also all anti-HCV negative.…”

Quantitative assessment of oral mucosa and labial minor salivary glands in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome using swept source OCT

“…However, although patients that experience Raynaud's phenomenon have distinct immunological characteristics of Sjögren's syndrome [56], so far they were shown to be linked only to extraglandular disease manifestations.…”

Seroprevalence ofHelicobacter pylori and association with atrophic gastritis in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome

“…However, it remains unclear whether reactivity to the 120-kDa o~-fodrin fragment is a primary event in the pathogenesis of SS [29]. In addition, a high prevalence of viral infections such as hepatitis C virus [30], human T cell leukemia virus type 1 [31] and human immunodeficiency virus have been reported in SS. However, the possible pathogenetic role of these viral infections in SS is still uncertain.…”