PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS IN DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C-ASSOCIATED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the study was to assess prevalence and risk factors for cryoglobulinemia associated with chronic hepatitis C in St.-Petersburg. Patients and methods. We studied 121 patients with chronic hepatitis C, including 53 men and 68 women with median age of 39±13 years. The median hepatitis duration was 3 years (range 0.5 to 34 years). In this group 25 (20,7%) had cirrhosis. Results. 37,2% (45/121) patients had circulating cryoglobulins. A low levels of crioglobulins (cryocrit 1-4%) were detected more frequently. Cryoglobulinaemic patients showed more frequent rates rheumatoid factors activity (р = 0,001), a higher levels of bilirubin (р = 0,003) and a γ-gamma-glutamyltransferase (р = 0,031). The presence of cryoglobulins was not correlated with HCV genotype (HCV 1a – 20,8% vs 20,7%, 1b – 29,2% vs 27,6%, 2 – 4,2% vs 6,9%, 3a – 20,8 vs 34,5%, mixt – 20,8% vs 6,9%, not identified – 4,1% vs 3,4%, in cryopositive vs cryonegative patients respectively, р = 0,7). By multivariate analysis hepatitis duration (Exp (B) = 1,07, 95% Cl 1,0-1,13, р = 0,049) and cirrhosis (Exp (B) = 6,2, 95% Cl 2,25-16,8, р < 0,001) could independently predict the presence of cryoglobulins. Conclusion. Our study demonstrates high prevalence of serum cryoglobulins in patients with chronic hepatitis C in St.-Petersburg and independent association between duration of hepatitis and advanced cirrhosis with development of cryoglobulinemia.

Keywords

• chronic hepatitis c
• cryoglobulinemia
• risk factors