[Correlation between serum globulin levels and hepatitis C virus antibody].
BACKGROUND
some studies have suggested that the elevation of serum globulins in patients with chronic autoimmune hepatitis, paraproteinemias and rheumatoid arthritis could affect the determination of false positive hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV).


OBJECTIVE
to study the relationship between positive anti-HCV and serum levels of globulins in patients with liver disease.


METHODS
one hundred thirty one patients with liver disease, 49 alcoholic, 38 cryptogenetic, 17 autoimmune and 27 with other causes, were studies prospectively measuring simultaneously anti-HCV and serum levels of total, gamma and immuno-globulins (IgA, IgG and IgM). These levels were compared between anti-HCV positive and negative groups and correlated with the ratio between serum optical density/cutoff optical density of the anti HCV assay.


RESULTS
Twenty eight patients (21.3%) were anti-HCV positive, no differences in serum globulins between these patients and anti-HCV negative patients and no correlations between serum globulins and anti-HCV optical densities were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
the hypergamma-globulinemia observed in these patients with liver diseases would not be responsible for positive hepatitis C virus antibodies.
Poniachik
J
J
Centro de Gastroenterología, Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago de Chile.
Velasco
M
M
Hurtado
C
C
Brahm
J
J
Chesta
J
J
Sepúlveda
C
C
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012712:Serum Globulins / Q000032:analysis*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D012712:Serum Globulins
Correlación entre niveles de globulinas séricas y anticuerpo anti-virus C de la hepatitis.