title: Prevalence of cryoglobulins and hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to evaluate the prevalence of positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) serology and cryoglobulinemia in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, the prevalence and the clinical significance of cryoglobulinemia were prospectively studied in a cohort of 86 HIV-infected subjects seen as outpatients. They were compared to a control group consisting of 101 HIV-HCV+ patients being followed at the same hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV serology was positive in 53/86 (61.6%) patients, 25 (47.2%) of whom had detectable cryoglobulins in their sera although only 1 had clinical symptoms consistent with cryoglobulinemia. Cryoglobulinemia was also detected in 9/33 (27.3%) HCV- patients, with only one of them presenting clinical symptoms. Although the mean cryoglobulin concentration was lower for HIV+ patients than in controls (268 versus 585 mg/l, p < 0.01), their prevalence (39.5% and 27.2%, respectively) was higher (p < 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cryoglobulinemia is frequently detected in HIV-infected patients, regardless of their HCV serology, but is poorly correlated with clinical symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hôpital Avicenne, Université Paris-Nord, Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roulot
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrière
authors.forename: Q T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lortholary
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jarrousse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dény
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coste
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Robineau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guillevin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome