Frequency of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Vitiligo Patients at Qena University Hospital

Abstract

Background: A range of autoimmune illnesses may be accelerated by hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is yet unclear how HCV infection and vitiligo are related. However, autoimmune pathways may be involved. Objectives: In this study, we estimated the frequency of HCV sero-positivity in patients with vitiligo and compared it to the population without vitiligo. Patients and methods: A total of 70 vitiligo patients and 70 control non vitiligo-patients were included in this study serum anti-HCV antibodies were measured using HCV third generation ELISA. The total body Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI) is calculated. Results: vitiligo patients (mean age: 33.04 ±18.93 years), control population (mean age 30±16.8 years) (41 males, 29 females), and 70 control population were (30 males, 40 females). The mean age was (33.04 ± 18.93). About 15 (21.4) of patients were employees, and 58.6% were from rural areas. Fifty percent were single. The mean duration of illness in all vitiligo patients is about (5.6 ± 5.1 years) (VASI) (3.66 ± 0.77). The control population was 70 with age and sex-matched (30 males, 40 females, mean age 30 ± 16.8 years. The anti-HCV antibody in vitiligo patients and all controls were negative. Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of HCV in individuals with vitiligo is not different from that of a control group, suggesting that HCV infection may not play a role in the pathophysiology of those patients.

Keywords

• dermatology
• venereology and andrology. laboratory medicine
• tropical medicine and gastroenterology