Journal
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
Volume 20, Issue 11, Pages 2962-2970Publisher
BAISHIDENG PUBLISHING GROUP INC
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2962
Keywords
Hepatitis C virus; Autoantibody; Autoimmune; Biomarker; Cytokine
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Funding
- National Science Council [NSC 101-2314-B-182A-103-MY3]
- Chang Gung Memorial Hospital [CMRPG3B1751E]
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During the course of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, various extrahepatic manifestations of autoimmune disorders may occur, including arthralgia/arthritis, sicca complex, purpura, cutaneous ulcer, and thyroid dysfunction. In addition, the prevalence of circulating autoantibodies is high among patients with HCV infection. Commonly detected autoantibodies in HCVinfected patients include rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibody, anti-SSA/anti-SSB antibody, cryoglobulin, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anti-smooth muscle antibody, anti-liver and anti-thyroid autoantibodies. These autoantibodies may be associated with underlying autoimmune disorders or liver inflammation in HCV infection. A possible reason for antibody production is overactivation and proliferation of B lymphocytes, via the interaction with the surface protein of HCV. Because immunotherapy can cause HCV flare-up or liver damage, overdiagnosis of HCV-related autoimmune symptoms as primary autoimmune disorders should be avoided. This review describes biomarkers that are useful in clinically evaluating autoimmune manifestations and disorders associated with HCV infection. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
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