Hepatitis C-associated mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a crossroad between autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation

Hepatitis C-associated mixed cryoglobulinaemia: a crossroad between autoimmunity and lymphoproliferation.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the second most cocmmon chronic viral infection in the world with a global prevalence of about 2%. Chronic HCV infection is commonly associated with a number of extrahepatic complications. Circulating mixed cryoglobulins (MCs) are detected in 40-60% of HCV-infected patients whereas overt cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis develops in only 5-10% of the cases. MC re...

Bronchoalveolar lavage in mixed cryoglobulinaemia associated with hepatitis C virus.

In order to evaluate the presence of an inflammatory process of the lower respiratory tract in patients with mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 16 non-smoking females free of clinical pulmonary symptoms and with normal chest roentgenograms. Pulmonary function tests including diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (...

Hepatitis C virus, mixed cryoglobulinaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The aetiology of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas remains a controversial matter, but, recently, evidence has emerged showing that these neoplastic aberrations of the immune system may be due to viruses, at least in some cases. In fact, patients affected by an inherited immune deficiency, and those presenting disease characterized by autoimmune dysfunctions, show an increased risk for the development of...

Parvovirus B19 infection, hepatitis C virus infection, and mixed cryoglobulinaemia.

BACKGROUND Infection with human parvovirus B19 (B19) has been reported in a few patients with various vasculitis syndromes. Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC), a model of small vessel size vasculitis, may result from numerous infectious diseases, particularly hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. AIM To assess the prevalence of seric B19 infection markers in a large series of patients with MC, with or...

Mixed cryoglobulinaemia after hepatitis C virus: more and less ambiguity.