Musculoskeletal complaints and serum autoantibodies associated with chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
We sought to compare the musculoskeletal symptoms and immune markers found in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients with HCV or NAFLD answered a questionnaire and donated serum for autoantibody testing. Univariate analysis between the HCV and NAFLD groups revealed joint pain in 67% of the HCV group and 65% of the NAFLD group. Those with joint pain reported inflammatory characteristics that were similar between the groups. The presence of a positive rheumatoid factor and cryoglobulins was higher in the HCV group, however both groups had a similar prevalence of a low positive antinuclear antibody (ANA). We conclude that the NAFLD group reported a higher amount of joint pain and inflammatory joint symptoms than anticipated. We were unable to determine a variable that predicted the presence of joint pain. Therefore, more investigation is needed to determine whether these findings are due to liver disease alone.
Banks
Sharon E
SE
Division of Rheumatology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive P. O. Box 850, H038, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. sbanks@psu.edu
Riley
Thomas R
TR
Naides
Stanley J
SJ
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D003450:Cryoglobulins; C048262:rheumatoid arthritis specific protein, human