RESEARCH - Anti-ENA antibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

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Digestive Diseases and Sciences

Issue: Volume 47, Number 4

Date: April 2002

Anti-ENA Antibodies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of

anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies in patients with chronic

HCV infection. We studied 69 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C,

59 control subjects with non-HCV liver diseases, and 22 control subjects

with extrahepatic, non-immune-mediated, chronic diseases. Thirty-two (46.3%)

of 69 patients with HCV infection had anti-ENA antibodies: 16 (23.1%) showed

anti-SSA antibodies and 14 (20.2%) had anti-SSB antibodies. Four of the

patients with HCV infection suffered from sicca syndrome and three of them

had also anti ENA antibodies. The prevalence of anti-ENA antibodies was

significantly higher in the anti-HCV subjects compared with both control

groups. Twenty-six of 44 HCV-antibodies-positive females had anti-ENA

antibodies, compared with 6 of 25 males, showing a sex related difference.

In conclusion, our results outline a specific role of HCV infection in the

induction of anti-ENA antibodies. Female sex seems a predisposing condition.

hepatitis C virus - anti-ENA antibodies - sicca syndrome - Sjögren''s

syndrome

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