Role of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies in chronic hepatitis C patients and its relation to HCV associated arthritis

AbstractAim of the workTo determine the frequency of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) antibodies in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients and its relation to HCV associated arthritis.Patients and methodsThe study included 60 HCV patients and 30age and sex matched control. Patients were subgrouped according to the presence and absence of associated arthritis. Laboratory investigations were performed and anti-MCV antibodies were measured.ResultsThe age of the patients ranged between 29 and 75years (mean 57.65±8.49years) and they were 38 males (63.3%) and 22 females (36.7%) M:F 1.7:1. 32 (53.3%) patients had arthritis while the remaining 28 (46.7%) did not. There was a significantly higher anti-MCV antibody level in the patients (median 250ug/L; range 175–375ug/L) compared to the control (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the anti-MCV antibodies between HCV patients with and without arthritis (p=0.15). The HCV patients without arthritis had a significantly higher level of anti-MCV antibody (median 200ug/L, range 175–375ug/L) than the control (median 30ug/L, range 5–15ug/L) (p