Hepatitis C virus infection and myositis: a virus localization study.
We report a case of myositis associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Muscle biopsy and immunohistochemistry showed perifascicular atrophy, few necrotic and regenerating fibres, scarce perivascular infiltrates, deposits of immunoglobulin G, C3, fibrinogen and MAC in muscle vessel walls, and non-uniform expression of major histocompatibility complex-I antigens among muscle fibres. Hepatitis C virus NS3 antigen and hepatitis C virus RNA were detected in infiltrating cells but not within muscle fibres or endothelial cells. Our findings suggest that humoral-mediated immune mechanisms, not directly related to hepatitis C virus infection of muscle structures, may sustain the local inflammatory reaction in this patient.
Di Muzio
A
A
Center for Neuromuscular Diseases, Clinica Neurologica, Ospedale Clinicizzato 'SS Annunziata', Via dei Vestini, I-66100, Chieti, Italy.
Bonetti
B
B
Capasso
M
M
Panzeri
L
L
Pizzigallo
E
E
Rizzuto
N
N
Uncini
A
A
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000502:physiology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009220:Myositis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
D005340:Fibrinogen; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases