title: Multiple vasculopathies and hepatitis B in a family.
abstract: A unique kindred with an unusual high incidence of serological markers of past or present hepatitis B infection was studied. None of eight relatives had clinical or chemical evidence of hepatitis and all were negative for IgM anti-hepatitis A, but four sisters, each with at least one hepatitis B marker, had features of rheumatic disorders. The index patient had polyarteritis nodosa, two sisters had Raynaud's disease, and the fourth and unclassifiable non-inflammatory polyarthralgia. A daughter of one sister with Raynaud's developed the aortic arch syndrome. There was no segregation of HLA-A, -B and -C alleles with hepatitis B infection. The intrafamilial occurrence of B virus infection and multiple vasculopathies suggests a wider role of this virus in inflammatory vessel diseases.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mooradian
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frayha
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis; D003241:Consanguinity; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000276:immunology; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000276:immunology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex