title: Prevalence of cryoglobulinemia in patients with chronic HCV infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of our research was to determine the prevalence of cryoglobulins in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) at different levels of activity and stage of fibrosis and to identify their association with the extrahepatic clinical manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  87 patients with CHC were investigated for the presence of cryoglobulins. Cryocrit was measured by the Weiner method. AntiHCV, HCV RNR, conventional biochemical tests and liver biopsy were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryoglobulins were found in a total of 44 patients: 16 from Group I, 11 from Group II, and 17 from Group III. A low level of cryoglobulinemia (Cg) (cryocritL2%) was detected in 16 patients: 9 from Group I, 3 from Group II, and 4 from Group III. Moreover, a high Cg (cryocrit >5-10%) or very high Cg (cryocrit >10%) was found in a total of 13 patients: 1 patient from Group I, 3 from Group II, and 9 from Group III. Cryo positivity was found in 5 patients with F 1-2, in 13 with F 2-3, in 4 with F 3-4, and in 17 with F 4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings confirmed the high prevalence of Cg in CHC patients in Lithuania, a clear association between Cg and the stage of fibrosis, the higher prevalence of Cg in cirrhotic patients, and the occurrence of several typical extrahepatic manifestations. The impact of Cg on the course of chronic hepatitis C is not clearly understood; therefore, further studies are needed to clarify this issue.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology and Dietetics, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liakina
authors.forename: Danute
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Speiciene
authors.forename: Algimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irnius
authors.forename: Jolanta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naraskeviciene
authors.forename: Ausrine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barakauskiene
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Semuchiniene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000150:complications*; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003450:Cryoglobulins