Hepatitis C virus infection and autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic hepatitis C virus infections are often associated with extra-hepatic immunological manifestations, including various autoimmune disorders. The aims of this study were: (i) to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus markers in patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, and (ii) to determine whether a relationship could exist between autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura and hepatitis C virus infections.


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-nine patients with autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (45 men, 94 women, mean age 42 years, range 16-90) were studied.


RESULTS
Anti-HCV antibodies were sought in their first and last available cryopreserved sera. In case of seropositivity, all their available cryopreserved sera were tested for anti-HCV antibodies and for HCV-RNA. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 14 of the 139 patients (10%). Four patients had transient anti-HCV seropositivity due to passive transfer of anti-HCV antibodies secondary to the infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin concentrates. Three patients seroconverted during follow up, due to intravenous drug use in one case, transfusion of non-HCV-screened blood units in one case, and infusion of intravenous immunoglobulins in one case. Seven patients had chronic hepatitis C discovered at the same time as autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. In two of them, hepatitis C virus transmission was the consequence of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura treatment but, in five cases, hepatitis C virus infection predated autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura, so that the role of hepatitis C virus in autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura could be suggested.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas hepatitis C virus does not appear to be the main etiological agent of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura can be envisaged. On the other hand, treatment of autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura or autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura-related symptoms by blood product infusion can be complicated by hepatitis C virus transmission.
Pawlotsky
J M
JM
Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Bouvier
M
M
Fromont
P
P
Deforges
L
L
Duval
J
J
Dhumeaux
D
D
Bierling
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000209:etiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral