[Prevalance of antibodies against hepatitis C and B viruses in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
Viruses might be one of the environmental agents that trigger systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies in patients with SLE.


METHODS
We investigated 110 SLE patients (106 women and 4 men, mean age 35.1 years) who fulfilled the criteria for SLE of the American College of Rheumatology. Three hundred blood donors served as controls. Antibodies against HCV and HBV were tested by a third generation ELISA. Positive results for anti-HCV were further studied by a third generation recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA 3.0) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A positive ELISA assay was considered when the result was positive on two consecutive determinations.


RESULTS
Antibodies to HCV were present in 3 blood donors (1%), compared with 2 SLE patients (p = 0.4, Fisher's test). One SLE patient was RIBA positive and was lost for follow-up, and the another was confirmed by PCR. This patient had chronic hepatitis and a history of blood transfusion. No patient or control was HBV positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of antibodies against HCV and HBV was not higher than in blood donors and the relation between these viruses and SLE could not be established.
Mercado
Ulises
U
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General de Mexicali, B.C. México, ISESALUD y Facultad de Medicina, Mexicali, UABC.
Avendaño-Reyes
Manuel
M
Araiza-Casillas
Rodolfo
R
Díaz-Molina
Raúl
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies