[Correlation between serum globulin levels and hepatitis C virus antibody].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

some studies have suggested that the elevation of serum globulins in patients with chronic autoimmune hepatitis, paraproteinemias and rheumatoid arthritis could affect the determination of false positive hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV).

AIM:

to study the relationship between positive anti-HCV and serum levels of globulins in patients with liver disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

one hundred thirty one patients with liver disease, 49 alcoholic, 38 cryptogenetic, 17 autoimmune and 27 with other causes, were studies prospectively measuring simultaneously anti-HCV and serum levels of total, gamma and immuno-globulins (IgA, IgG and IgM). These levels were compared between anti-HCV positive and negative groups and correlated with the ratio between serum optical density/cutoff optical density of the anti HCV assay.

RESULTS:

Twenty eight patients (21.3%) were anti-HCV positive, no differences in serum globulins between these patients and anti-HCV negative patients and no correlations between serum globulins and anti-HCV optical densities were observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

the hypergamma-globulinemia observed in these patients with liver diseases would not be responsible for positive hepatitis C virus antibodies.

• Authors: J Poniachik, M Velasco, C Hurtado, J Brahm, J Chesta, C Sepúlveda
• Journal: Revista medica de Chile (Rev Med Chil) Vol. 121 Issue 7 Pg. 752-6 (Jul 1993) ISSN: 0034-9887 [Print] Chile
• Vernacular Title: Correlación entre niveles de globulinas séricas y anticuerpo anti-virus C de la hepatitis.
• PMID: 8296078 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis Antibodies
• Serum Globulins

Topics

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis Antibodies (blood)
• Humans
• Liver Diseases (blood, immunology)
• Prospective Studies
• Serum Globulins (analysis)