Keratoconjunctivitis sicca and chronic HCV infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and its association with HCV genotypes and liver histology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

93 HCVAb (+) patients underwent lacrimal function testing (Schirmer-1 test, break-up time test and Rose-Bengal staining test) and estimation of serum cryoglobulins and autoantibodies. 80 healthy volunteers were included in the study as controls.

RESULTS:

34 out of 93 HCV patients (36.6%) and eight out of 80 healthy subjects (10%) had at least two abnormal lacrimal function tests suggestive of KCS (p < 0.001), cryoglobulinemia was evident in 20 patients (21.5%), rheumatoid factor (RF) in 43 (46.2%), antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in 19 (20.4%), antinuclear antigens (anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B) in one (1.1%) and two (2.2%) patients, respectively. Reduced prevalence of KCS was found in patients with genotype 3a compared to those with other genotypes (5/30, 16.7% vs 20/42, 47.6%, p = 0.007), probably because of their younger age. In patients with KCS a higher staging score was noted in liver biopsy compared to those without KCS (4.50 +/- 1.65 vs 3.06 +/- 1.88, p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION:

Greek patients with chronic HCV infection have a high prevalence of KCS (36.6%). The low frequency of anti-SS-A and anti-SS-B antibodies in these patients denotes different pathogenetic associations from primary Sjogren's syndrome.

• Authors: D Siagris, N Pharmakakis, M Christofidou, J K Petropoulos, C Vantzou, A Lekkou, C A Gogos, C Labropoulou-Karatza
• Journal: Infection (Infection) Vol. 30 Issue 4 Pg. 229-33 (Aug 2002) ISSN: 0300-8126 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 12236567 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Antinuclear
• Antibodies, Viral

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age Factors
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Antinuclear (analysis)
• Antibodies, Viral (analysis)
• Biopsy
• Female
• Greece (epidemiology)
• Hepacivirus (immunology)
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (complications)
• Humans
• Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (epidemiology, etiology, immunology)
• Liver (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prevalence