title: Ischemic stroke accompanied by anti-PR3 antibody-related cerebral vasculitis and hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been found to be strikingly associated with autoimmune phenomena. Autoantibodies are commonly found in patients with HCV infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  ANCA were determined in sera from 36 patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection (18 females, 18 males, mean age 75+/-10 years) and 44 healthy controls. Assays employed were indirect immunofluorescence for detection of ANCA and ELISA for anti-proteinase 3 (anti-PR3-ANCA). No one of the patients studied received IFN-alpha treatment before blood collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ANCA were positive in 21 out of 36 (58 %) patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection. All sera with ANCA showed cANCA patterns and contained anti-PR3 specificity. HCV patients with ANCA showed a higher prevalence of cerebral vasculitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV may be regarded as a possible causative factor in ANCA-related vasculitis.
authors.affiliation: Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinic of Neurology, Colentina Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. mcojocar@cmb.ro
authors.forename: Inimioara Mihaela
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cojocaru
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burcin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053146:Myeloblastin / Q000276:immunology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D020293:Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D053146:Myeloblastin