الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Nonorgan specific autoantibodies (NOSAs) are frequently found in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and the clinical impact of NOSAs in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C and schistosomiasis and to determine whether the pattern of autoantibodies was associated with HCV genotypes. Sera from 111 patients with chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B and schistosomiasis in addition to 10 healthy control were investigated for the presence of antinuclear (ANA), antimitochondrial (AMA), antismooth muscle (SMA), antiliverkidney microsomal type 1 (LKM1), antiliverkidney microsomal type 3 (LKM3) and antisoluble liver antigen (SLA) antibodies. Clinical, biochemical and virological data (serum HCV RNA titer and HCV genotypes) were compared between patients with and without autoantibodies. In thirty four patients with chronic hepatitis C, 50% of patients were positive for at least one autoantibody compared to 22.2% and 10% in patients with chronic hepatitis B and healthy control respectively. Various antibodies were presented as follows: ANA in 41.2%, SMA in 26.5%, AMA in 2.9% and LKM1 in 11.8%. NOSAs were significantly associated with older age (P<0.05), elevated ALT (P<0.05) and higher HCV RNA levels (P<0.01). HCV genotypes were not significantly different between patients with and without autoantibodies. In 45 patients with schistosomiasis, 8 (17.5%) patients were seropositive for at least one autoantibody. ANA were detected in 8.9%, SMA in 13.3% and AMA in 2.2%. The presence of NOSAs did not correlate with severity of liver disease. CONCLUSION: Approximately 50% of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C are associated with positive serum autoantibodies. NOSAs are associated with a more active disease in terms of ALT and HCV RNA levels. No significant association between NOSAs and HCV genotypes is observed. In schistosomiasis, the presence of NOSAs are not correlated with severity of liver disease.