Mild sialoadenitis: a common finding in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease of presumed viral origin; sialoadenitis has been reported to occur in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODS:

Lip biopsy specimens were graded in 32 consecutive patients with either HCV-related chronic liver disease or SS.

RESULTS:

Seventeen of 22 HCV-positive patients had sialoadenitis, although generally mild (15 of 17, grades I-II). Severe inflammation (grades III-IV) was observed in 8 of 10 patients with SS (chi-square = 12.6; P < 0.0005). Moreover, HCV-positive patients with sialoadenitis differed from patients with SS in female sex prevalence (6 of 17 versus 10 of 10; chi-square = 10.9; P = 0.0001) and presence of serum antinuclear autoantibodies (0 of 17 versus 9 of 10; chi-square = 23.0; P < 0.0001). Five of 13 HCV-positive patients and 7 of 8 patients with SS were HLA-DR3-positive (chi-square = 4.9; P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Sialoadenitis of HCV-related liver disease is common but differs from SS with regard to predisposing genetic factors, expression of autoimmune markers, and histopathologic severity.

• Authors: M Pirisi, C Scott, C Fabris, G Ferraccioli, G Soardo, R Ricci, P Toniutto, C Avellini, D Vitulli, A M Miotti
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology (Scand J Gastroenterol) Vol. 29 Issue 10 Pg. 940-2 (Oct 1994) ISSN: 0036-5521 [Print] England
• PMID: 7839102 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Chronic Disease
• Female
• Hepatitis C (complications, pathology)
• Humans
• Liver Diseases (complications, pathology, virology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sialadenitis (pathology, virology)
• Sjogren's Syndrome (pathology, virology)