Significance and detection of serum autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Objective To analyze the positive rate of serum autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and its clinical significance.Methods Sera of 119 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection and 40 health-screening individuals were tested for antinuclear antihodies(ANA),rheumatoid factor(RF),and anti-extractable nuclear antigen antibodies(anti-ENA).The positive rates were compared between the 2 groups.The relationship between the autoantibodies and age,gender,nationality,liver function markers and HCV replication were explored.Results Autoantibodies were detected in 64 individuals with HCV infection(at least one of autoantibodies positive),the positive rate was 53.8%.Autoantibodies were detected in 3 health-screening individuals(at least one of autoantibodies positive),the positive rate was 7.5%.The difference between the 2 groups had statistical significance(P 0.05).The positive rate of autoantibodies in HCV RNA positive group were 64.6% and 40.7% in HCV RNA negative group.There was significance difference between the 2 groups(P 0.05).There was no significant difference of gender and nationality in autoantibodies positive group and negative group(P 0.05),while significant difference of constituent ratio for age≥40 years old between between the 2 groups(P 0.05).ALT,AST and TBil in antibodies positive group were all higher than those in antibodies negative group(P 0.05).Conclusion HCV infection may induce autoimmune reaction resulting in the production of autoantibodies.The positive rate of autoantibodies is associated with age and virus reproduction.Autoimmune reaction is an important factor in hepatocyte injufies in patients with HCV infection.It is necessary to detect the autoantibodies for the patients with HCV infection