title: Circulating immune complexes in chronic hepatitis related to hepatitis C and B viruses infection.
abstract: Circulating immune complexes (CIC) may be involved in tissue damage and/or viral clearance in viral hepatitis. To assess the frequency of raised CIC in chronic hepatitis related to hepatitis B and C, IgM, IgG, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) containing CIC were determined, by conglutinin (K) and C1q assays, in 101 patients with chronic hepatitis B alone, 24 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C, 48 patients with chronic hepatitis C alone, and 54 healthy controls. Compared to patients with hepatitis B alone, patients with dual infection had higher frequency of raised IgM-C1q CIC (P < 0.001) and IgM-K CIC (P < 0.01). There is no difference in the prevalence of HBsAg-CIC between patients with hepatitis B alone and those with dual infection. Among patients with chronic hepatitis C alone, conglutinin-binding CIC is the predominant type of raised CIC and correlated with more severe liver damage. In conclusion, CIC may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D003176:Complement C3; D000939:Epitopes; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral