Anti-ENA antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies in patients with chronic HCV infection. We studied 69 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C, 59 control subjects with non-HCV liver diseases, and 22 control subjects with extrahepatic, non-immune-mediated, chronic diseases. Thirty-two (46.3%) of 69 patients with HCV infection had anti-ENA antibodies: 16 (23.1%) showed anti-SSA antibodies and 14 (20.2%) had anti-SSB antibodies. Four of the patients with HCV infection suffered from sicca syndrome and three of them had also anti ENA antibodies. The prevalence of anti-ENA antibodies was significantly higher in the anti-HCV subjects compared with both control groups. Twenty-six of 44 HCV-antibodies-positive females had anti-ENA antibodies, compared with 6 of 25 males, showing a sex related difference. In conclusion, our results outline a specific role of HCV infection in the induction of anti-ENA antibodies. Female sex seems a predisposing condition.
D'Amico
E
E
Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale Civile dello Spirito Santo, Pescara, Italy.
Palazzi
C
C
Cacciatore
P
P
Canelli
A
A
Ursitti
G
G
Cosentino
L
L
Dogali
V
V
Riario-Sforza
G
G
Capani
F
F
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000276:immunology; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D000906:Antibodies; D034961:Antigens, Nuclear; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D009687:Nuclear Proteins