title: Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in porphyria cutanea tarda: systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies evaluating prevalence of HCV infection in patients with PCT were considered. Bibliographical searches were conducted in several electronic databases. Studies comparing HCV prevalence in PCT (cases) and in a reference group (controls) were included in the meta-analysis, combining the Odds Ratios (OR) of the individual studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty studies including 2,167 patients were identified. Mean HCV prevalence by serology was 47%, and 50% with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV prevalence markedly varied depending on the country and the type of PCT (57% in the sporadic and 26% in the familial form). Eight case-control studies were identified. Seven studies compared HCV prevalence in PCT vs. healthy controls: 40% vs. 0.24%, respectively (OR=275; 95% confidence interval=104-725). Heterogeneity disappeared when only studies evaluating HCV infection by PCR were included.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV prevalence in patients with PCT is approximately 50%, much higher than that reported in general population, suggesting a possible etiopathogenic role of HCV in PCT. The striking geographical variation in this association suggests that genetic and/or environmental factors may also be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Gastroenterología y Hepatología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Diego de León, 62. 28006, Madrid, Spain. gisbert@meditex.es
authors.forename: Javier P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gisbert
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: García-Buey
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pajares
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moreno-Otero
mesh_terms: D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000821:virology*; D015995:Prevalence