title: Viral hepatitis and anti-phospholipid antibodies positivity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anti-phospholipid antibodies positivity is associated with several clinical conditions, including infectious diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We performed a meta-analysis evaluating the association of hepatitis B and C with anti-phospholipid antibody positivity and with anti-phospholipid antibody-related thrombotic complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies evaluating the association of viral hepatitis with anti-cardiolipin, anti-β2 glycoprotein-I and lupus anticoagulant antibodies and anti-phospholipid antibody-related thrombotic events were systematically searched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  20 studies (2319 cases, 1901 controls) were included. The analyses showed that viral hepatitis is associated with the presence of anti-cardiolipin and anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibodies. The association with anticardiolipin antibodies was confirmed in both hepatitis B (OR 11.22, 95% CI: 6.68-18.84) and hepatitis C (OR 11.26, 95% CI: 6.82-18.59). Similarly, compared to controls, anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibodies were found more frequently in hepatitis B (OR 14.07, 95% CI: 3.06-64.66) and hepatitis C (OR 5.64, 95% CI: 1.69-18.77). Moreover, 11 studies (257 cases, 1079 controls) showed a higher prevalence of venous and/or arterial thrombosis in patients with hepatitis and anti-cardiolipin antibody positivity compared hepatitis alone (OR 3.29, 95% CI: 1.79-6.07). This result was consistently confirmed in hepatitis C (OR 3.64, 95% CI: 1.78-7.46) but not in hepatitis B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Viral hepatitis is significantly associated with anti-phospholipid antibody positivity and with anti-phospholipid antibody-related thrombotic complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ambrosino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lupoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Minno
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Interventional Hepatology Unit, Andrea Tortora Hospital, Pagani, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarantino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University, Naples, Italy; Unit of Cell and Molecular Biology in Cardiovascular Diseases, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: dario.diminno@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Matteo Nicola Dario
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Di Minno
mesh_terms: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Anti-β2 glycoprotein-I antibodies; Anticardiolipin antibodies; Antiphospholipid antibodies; Viral hepatitis