crioglobulins

A 56-year-old man with behavioural disorders and facial-brachio-crural right hemiparesis presented with a brain lesion studied with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and brain biopsy, leading to the diagnosis of cerebral vasculitis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a phase of activity, without cryoglobulins, was also detected. Brain biopsy, laboratory analysis and response to a specific therapy supported the diagnosis of central nervous system vasculitis that was HCV related.

BACKGROUND: HCV infection beside chronic hepatitis can induce immunological disorders with different clinical expressions such as chronic arthritis. AIM: To study the prevalence of arthritis in HCV-Ab positive patients and verify possible correlation with viral replication, hepatic damage and autoimmunity imbalance. STUDY DESIGN: Three hundred and eighty patients (196 M and 184 F) affected by HCV infection were examined and 38 (10%) were selected according to the presence of arthritis...

Forty-seven patients: group A--17 patients with acute ischemic atherothrombotic stroke and group B--30 patients with acute Q-formation myocardial infarction. The levels of dynamics and comparative clinical relevance of crioglobulinemia in patients of the both groups have been evaluated. Crioglobulines (CG) in the peripheral blood serum were determined at 1, 2, 3, 7th and 14th days after the disease development. On the 1st day, the elevated CG level similar in the both groups as well as similarity of crioglobulinemia dynamics in whole was observed...

BACKGROUND: Between extra-hepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection particular interest is focused on some dermatological diseases such as: leukocytoclastic vasculitis, oral lichen planus, pruritus-urticaria, psoriasis, etc. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of some dermatoses in our population of patients with HCV infection and describe the more characteristics clinical pictures. METHODS: Ninety-six patients (36 men and 60 women) aged from 35 to 74 years with HCV documented by 3rd generation ELISA and RIBA tests were prospectively examined for 3 years to determine the prevalence of some skin disorders, reported as associated with HCV infection...

Rheumatoid factors were present in 33.2%, crioglobulins in 47.6%, and anticomplementary assay in 34.2% of cases with chronic active hepatitis. No statistically significant loss of total complement was observed, but its components especially C1 and C3, exhibited lowered titers in 48.6% and respectively 45.7% of 160 cases. The origin, significance and pathogenicity of these factors are discussed in connection with the presence and possible role of the immunologic complexes to the development of chronic liver injury...