1. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies and cryoglobulinemia in patients with leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
- Author
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Güngör E, Cirit A, Alli N, Karakayali G, Gür G, and Artüz F
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Alanine Transaminase blood, Antibodies, Viral immunology, Aspartate Aminotransferases blood, Child, Complement C3 metabolism, Complement C4 metabolism, Cryoglobulinemia blood, Cryoglobulinemia epidemiology, Female, Hepatitis C epidemiology, Hepatitis C virology, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Rheumatoid Factor blood, Turkey epidemiology, Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous blood, Antibodies, Viral blood, Cryoglobulinemia complications, Hepacivirus immunology, Hepatitis C complications, Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous complications
- Abstract
Background: Several dermatologic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been described. The association of HCV infection, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) have been published mainly in case reports., Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of HCV infection and cryoglobulinemia in patients with LV., Methods: Twenty-five cases of LV were tested for anti-HCV antibodies by means of a third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and cryoglobulins were detected by the precipitation method. Thirty healthy volunteers served as control group., Results: Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 2/25 patients with LV (8%) and none of the control group. Cryoglobulinemia was detected in 1 patient with LV and none in the control group., Conclusion: Although no significant difference between patients and the control group was detected, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in LV patients is as high as 8%. Considering this, it seems reasonable to investigate the presence of HCV in unexplained cases of LV.
- Published
- 1999
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