"ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODIES IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS "C

Abstract

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is usually defined by the association of clinical manifestations that comprise venous and/or arterial thrombosis, recurrent fetal losses and thrombocytopenia, along with the presence of anticardiolipin (ACL) antibodies and/or lupus anticoagulant.

Anticardiolipin (ACL) antibodies have been detected in a variety of infectious diseases, particularly of viral origin, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection, mumps and hepatitis A. However there is a conflicting data concering the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a process associated with the presence of serum autoantibodies and with the development of immunologic disturbances such as mixed cryoglobulinemia and immune thrombocytopenia.

The aim of this study to analyzes the prevalence of anticardiolipin antibodies in chronic HCV infection and its association with parameters of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

The present study was conducted on 100 patients with chronic HCV infection and 20 healthy subjects, as a control. all patients and control subjects included in this study were subjected to full history taking. Thorough clinical examination laboratory investigations including (liver function tests. prothrombin time and activity). complete blood counts, blood urea and creatinine. HCV antibodies by ELISA, HCV-RNA by PCR, anticardiolipin antibodies.