Monoclonal gammopathy among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies in Kuwait and its association with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.


METHODS
Serum protein electrophoresis and measurement of immunoglobulin levels were carried out prospectively in 100 consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection.


RESULTS
Among the 100 patients tested (82 males, 18 females; median age 45 years), 59 had polyclonal band in serum protein electrophoresis while the other 41 had a normal pattern. None of the patients had monoclonal gammopathy. The mean serum immunoglobulin levels were: IgG 18.4 g/l (range 4-39), IgA 2.9 g/l (range 0.09-8) and IgM 1.6 g/l (range 0.14-6.08).


CONCLUSIONS
There was no evidence of monoclonal gammopathies in patients with chronic HCV infection in Kuwait.
Al-Shemmari
Salem H
SH
Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. salemalshemmari@hotmail.com
Siddique
Iqbal
I
Hassan
Fuad
F
Nkansa-Dwamena
David
D
El-Naga
Hisham Abu
HA
Ameen
Reem
R
D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence