Four FREE health reports for you

Register now for our vital and insightful health updates, and get four free health reports to help you live more healthily.

email to friend Printer friendly

News

Hepatitis c more common in sle patients

01 April 2001

An analysis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has found that this group of patients may be more vulnerable to contracting hepatitis C virus (HCV) than healthy individuals.

To reach this conclusion, Spanish researchers studied the prevalence of HCV in 134 consecutive SLE patients and compared this with HCV prevalence in healthy controls. Eleven per cent of the SLE patients had antibodies to HCV compared with only 1 per cent of the controls.

In addition, the researchers found that, when found together, the diseases seemed to have modified each other. For example, HCV infection in SLE patients involves more liver symptoms and immunological disorders than in non-SLE subjects. Also, SLE patients with HCV show fewer skin symptoms and a different DNA profile.

What remains unclear is whether there is a link between HCV and SLE or whether HCV can, under

certain circumstances, mimic SLE. Although small, this study represents one of the largest studies ever done into the association between SLE and HCV. Currently, however, it raises more questions than it answers (Arthritis Rheum, 2000; 43: 2801-6).

Systemic lupus erythematosus - For some decades, we've known that systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the diffuse inflammatory connective tissue disease, can be caused by drugs like...

Lupus erythematosus - The food factor - Forty years ago, if you were diagnosed as having lupus, otherwise known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prognosis would not have been good....

Lupus erythematosus - Q:I have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and would be interested to know of alternative therapy, if possible. I was diagnosed in 1989 when I had m...

Lupus: a pet problem - Environmental factors may have a role in causing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the slow motion degenerative disease causing arthritis and eventu...

Antinuclear antibody tests - If your doctor suspects that you have an autoimmune disorder such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma, he may a...

Lupus-associated bone disease may come with steroids - Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with high-dose steroids appear to develop osteonecrosis (bone death) within one month of star...

Boron aids sle sufferers - I have just been reading over again your excellent article about SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) (WDDTY vol 7 no 9). About 20 years ago a patient c...

Sle: immune system melt down - Systemic lupus erythematosus is another one of those puzzling Twentieth century diseases without an obvious cause. Like arthritis, SLE, which effects...

The British Institute for the Identification & Treatment of Allergic Disorders

How You Beat Asthma
How To Beat Your M.E.
How You Beat ADHD
How You Beat Arthritis
How You Beat Backpain
How You Beat Depression How You Beat Pain
How You Beat The Menopause
How You Beat Heart Problems
WDDTY Health Shop

Register for our health updates and free gifts.
First Name:
Email: