STUDY OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASES

Abstract

HCV infection has been associated with several extrahepatic manifestations, such as essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, membranoproliferative glomenilonephritis and idiopathiC pulmonary fibrosis (Zignego and Brechot, 1999). However, the relationship between HCV infection and obstructive lung diseases, whether bronchial asthma or COPD, is not yet known. Some cases of chronic asthma or COPD are associated with HCV infection and the association may not be sporadic. This study aimed to find the incidence ofHCV in different types of obstructive lung diseases and whether there is a specific pathology in the airways HCV positive patients for the possible contribution ofHCV infection to the pathogenesis of obstructive lung diseases. The study was carried on thirty patients with obstructive lung diseases (10 were asthmatic, 12 with emphysema, 8 with chronic bronchitis). Also, twenty patients with HCV positive PCR who were not having any pulmonary problem were included as a control group. History taking and clinical examination, pulmonary function tests and HCV detection in serum by PCR were done • for cases. Bronchoscopy with Bronchial biopsy and BAL were obtained from both cases and controls. Light microscopic examination and HCV detection in both the biopsy and BAL by immunohistochemical staining.