Antinuclear antibody is associated with a more advanced fibrosis and lower RNA levels of hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Issue 3 (1st June 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsieh, M-Y; Dai, C-Y; Lee, L-P; Huang, J-F; Tsai, W-C; Hou, N-J; Lin, Z-Y; Chen, S-C; Wang, L-Y; Chang, W-Y; Chuang, W-L; Yu, M-L
• Is Part Of: Journal of clinical pathology. Volume 61:Issue 3(2008)
• Page Start: 333
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2007-06-01
• Subjects: antinuclear antibody -- chronic hepatitis C -- liver fibrosis -- HCV RNA -- HCV RNA level; Pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Molecular -- Periodicals; 616.0705
• DOI: 10.1136/jcp.2006.046276
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-9746

Abstract

Abstract : Aims: Positive serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) is present in a number of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ANA in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and to elucidate its clinical implications in virological and histological characteristics of CHC infection. Methods: A total of 614 CHC patients were enrolled in this prospective, hospital-based study. The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and ANA, and HCV genotype, HCV RNA level, and histological activity index scores for liver histopathology, were determined. Results: The prevalence of positive ANA (titre >1:40) was 35.0%. Women had a significantly higher prevalence than men (41.2 vs 31.0%; p = 0.012). Patients positive for ANA were significantly older (mean (SD), 53.7 (10.5) vs 49.7 (11.3) years; p<0.001) and had higher mean (SD) alanine aminotransferase levels (186.9 (178.8) vs 155.50 (113.5) IU/l; p<0.001) and lower mean (SD) HCV RNA levels (5.2 (0.9) vs 5.4 (1.0) log IU/ml; p = 0.048) than those without ANA. Among 447 patients undergoing liver biopsy, those positive for ANA had a significantly higher mean (SD) fibrosis score (2.0 (1.3) vs 1.5 (1.1); p<0.001) and a higher frequency of F3–4 (69/187, 36.9% vs 50/260, 19.2%; p<0.001) than those negative for ANA. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that advanced fibrosis, lower HCV RNA levels and age were significant factors related to positive ANA. Conclusion: ANA is associated with a more advanced liver fibrosis and lower serum HCV RNA level in patients with CHC.