OBJECTIVE To assess the prevalence of TT virus (TMV) infection in a series of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, with or without benign (mixed cryoglobulinemia) or malignant (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL)) lymphoproliferative disease. METHODS Sixty-six HCV patients were studied, including patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia (n=30), B-NHL (n=15), and no mixed cryog...

Complement receptor 1-related gene/protein y (Crry) in rodents is a potent membrane complement regulator that inhibits complement C3 activation by both classical and alternative pathways. To clarify the role of complement in lupus nephritis, MRL/lpr mice were given Crry as a recombinant protein (Crry-Ig) from 12 to 24 wk of age. Control groups were given saline or normal mouse IgG. Sera and uri...

To cite: Saadoun D, Resche Rigon M, Thibault V, et al. Ann Rheum Dis Published Online First: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/annrheumdis2012-202770 ABSTRACT Background The standard-of-care treatment of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) vasculitis includes pegylated interferon α (PegIFN)-α plus ribavirin and/or rituximab. About 30–40% of patients are n...

BACKGROUND Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by monoclonal IgM. Its rarity makes it difficult to know the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with WM. METHODS The clinical records of 13 patients diagnosed with WM between 1983 and 2003 were reviewed, and 12 patients were eligible. RESULTS The median age was 57 years (range, 40 to ...

INTRODUCTION We conducted a study to analyze how infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) may influence the immunological serum pattern of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS). METHODS Since 1994, we have tested serum HCV-IgG antibodies in 783 patients with SS diagnosed according to the 1993 European classification criteria. The immunological profile at diagnosis was compared according to the pres...

OBJECTIVE B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) is known to support B-cell proliferation (BCP) in B-cell haemopathies and autoimmune diseases. We assume that BLyS may play a role in the initiation and expression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated BCP. We assessed BLyS serum levels in HCV-infected patients and in various forms of HCV-associated BCP [i.e. mixed cryoglobulin (MC), rheumatoid factor (R...

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...

Objective Anti-C1q antibodies (Anti-C1q Ab) are seen in hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS), infection-associated vasculitis such as hepatitis C virus-related vasculitis and in autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, giant cell arteritis, vascular Behcet's disease, and cryoglobulin associated vasculitis. Aim of this study is to evaluate the ...

Monoclonal gammopathy represents a condition characterized by clonal proliferation and accumulation of immunoglobulin producing B-cells. A variety of skin disorders are associated with an increased level of monoclonal immunoglobulin proteins. These skin disorders can be divided into two groups. The first group represents a direct consequence of plasma cell proliferation. The colonization of the...

Protein condensations, such as crystallization, liquid-liquid phase separation, aggregation, and gelation, have been observed in concentrated antibody solutions under various solution conditions. While most IgG antibodies are quite soluble, a few outliers can undergo condensation under physiological conditions. Condensation of IgGs can cause serious consequences in some human diseases and in bi...