Genetic predispositions for the presence of cryoglobulinemia and serum autoantibodies in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may induce immunological disorders in the host such as the presence of cryoglobulinemia or serum autoantibodies. The pathogenesis of these phenomena remains unclear but may reflect the host's genetic predispositions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between these immunological manifestations and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C. The presence of serum cryoglobulin and autoantibodies (antinuclear antibody, antismooth muscle antibody, antimitochondrial antibody, anti liver-kidney-microsomal antibody) was determined in 122 Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C. HLA class I and class II antigens were measured by microlymphocytotoxicity assay or by DNA typing in 122 chronic hepatitis C patients and 228 healthy controls. Of the 122 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 52 (43%) had cryoglobulinemia and 48 (39%) had serum autoantibodies. A significant difference in HLA frequency was noted for DR3, which was found in 36.5% of patients with cryoglobulinemia compared with 8.6% of patients without cryoglobulinemia and 11.3% of healthy controls. A significant difference in HLA frequency was also noted for DR4, which was found in 45.8% of patients with serum autoantibodies compared with 17.6% of patients without serum autoantibodies and 19% of healthy controls. Our results suggest the existence of HLA-linked susceptibility genes (DR3 or DR4) for the development of cryoglobulinemia or serum autoantibodies in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C.