Chronic hepatitis C associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.
BACKGROUND
Two patients were admitted to Mie Prefectural General Medical Center and diagnosed as chronic hepatitis C complicated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).


METHODS
The MGUS class were immunoglobulin (Ig)G. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genotype was Ib. Based on these findings, they were diagnosed as chronic hepatitis C complicated with MGUS.


RESULTS
Histological studies showed chronic hepatitis in the liver and a mild rise in plasma cells without dysplasia and abnormalities in the bone marrow. Serum examination for cryoglobulin was negative.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic HCV infection might play a pathogenic role in the multistage process leading to lymphoproliferative disorders.
Hamazaki
Kei
K
Department of Internal Medicien, Mie Prefectural General Medical Center and Mie University of Medicine, Tsu, Japan. md002010@st.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Baba
Masaru
M
Hasegawa
Hiroshi
H
Kai
Motokazu
M
Araki
Miho
M
Watanabe
Noriko
N
Tuneya
Yasuo
Y
Kumazawa
Masatugu
M
Adachi
Yukihiko
Y
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy