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Infectious Serologies and Autoantibodies in Hepatitis C and Autoimmune Disease-Associated Mixed Cryoglobulinemia

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Abstract

Mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) syndrome is an immune complex-mediated vasculitis characterized by the clinical triad of purpura, weakness, and arthralgias, the morbidity of which is mainly related to kidney and peripheral nervous system dysfunction as well as to the development of a secondary lymphoma (Ferri et al. Autoimmun Rev 7:114–120, 2007, Lidar et al. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1173:649–657, 2009, Trejo et al. Semin Arthritis Rheum 33:19–28, 2003). MC is associated with infectious and systemic disorders, principally autoimmune and lymphoproliferative diseases. Since the 1990s, a striking association (>90%) between MC and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been established (Ferri and Bombardieri 2004; Pascual et al. J Infect Dis 162:569–570, 1990). However, information regarding the etiopathogenesis of HCV-negative MC is scant (Mascia et al. Dig Liver Dis 39:61–64, 2007). We hereby present our findings, as well as previously published data, regarding the presence of antibodies against infectious agents and autoantibodies in patients with MC in an attempt to establish novel associations which may shed light on the etiopathogenesis of this disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Autoimmune Disease, Rheumatology Unit, Sheba Medical Center (SMC), Tel Hashomer and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Merav Lidar & Pnina Langevitz

  2. Center for Autoimmune Disease, SMC, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Noga Lipschitz, Nancy Agmon-Levin, Ori Barzilai & Maya Ram

  3. Department of Geriatrics, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel

    Bat-Sheba Porat-Katz

  4. Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Ospedale Civile, Tolmezzo, Italy

    Nicola Bizzaro

  5. Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jan Damoiseaux & Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert

  6. Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jan Willem Cohen Tervaert

  7. Rheumatology Clinic, University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Salvatore deVita

  8. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

    Stefano Bombardieri

  9. Center for Autoimmune Disease, Sheba Medical Center (SMC), Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Yehuda Shoenfeld

  10. Research of Autoimmune Diseases, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Yehuda Shoenfeld

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  1. Merav Lidar
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Correspondence to Merav Lidar.

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Lidar, M., Lipschitz, N., Agmon-Levin, N. et al. Infectious Serologies and Autoantibodies in Hepatitis C and Autoimmune Disease-Associated Mixed Cryoglobulinemia. Clinic Rev Allerg Immunol 42, 238–246 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-011-8275-x

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