title: Autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C: A clinical perspective.
abstract: Non-organ-specific autoantibodies and thyroid autoantibodies have been frequently found in chronic carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV). With respect to endomysial antibodies and tissue transglutaminase, it is controversial whether the prevalence of gluten-related seromarkers is higher in patients with HCV. In such cases, in addition to acknowledging any currently existing autoimmune disease, recognizing the risk of the patient developing an autoimmune disease during interferon (IFN)-based treatment must be a principle concern. From a clinical point-of-view, the presence of autoantibodies arouses suspicion that an autoimmune disease may be present or may be precipitated by IFN-based HCV treatment. In this paper, we review the prevalence of autoantibodies in individuals with hepatitis C, the clinical significance of these autoantibodies, and the approach recommended for such situations.
authors.affiliation: Janaína Luz Narciso-Schiavon, Leonardo de Lucca Schiavon, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaína Luz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Narciso-Schiavon
authors.affiliation: Janaína Luz Narciso-Schiavon, Leonardo de Lucca Schiavon, Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina 88040-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo de Lucca
authors.initials: Lde L
authors.lastname: Schiavon
keywords: Antibodies; Antinuclear; Autoimmune; Autoimmunity; Celiac disease; Diarrhea; Hashimoto disease; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Interferon-alpha; Thyroglobulin; Thyroid diseases; Transglutaminases