Musculoskeletal complaints and serum autoantibodies associated with chronic hepatitis C and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Dig Dis Sci. 2007 May;52(5):1177-82. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9109-7. Epub 2007 Mar 27.

Abstract

We sought to compare the musculoskeletal symptoms and immune markers found in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients with HCV or NAFLD answered a questionnaire and donated serum for autoantibody testing. Univariate analysis between the HCV and NAFLD groups revealed joint pain in 67% of the HCV group and 65% of the NAFLD group. Those with joint pain reported inflammatory characteristics that were similar between the groups. The presence of a positive rheumatoid factor and cryoglobulins was higher in the HCV group, however both groups had a similar prevalence of a low positive antinuclear antibody (ANA). We conclude that the NAFLD group reported a higher amount of joint pain and inflammatory joint symptoms than anticipated. We were unable to determine a variable that predicted the presence of joint pain. Therefore, more investigation is needed to determine whether these findings are due to liver disease alone.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Proteins / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
  • Arthralgia / epidemiology
  • Arthralgia / etiology*
  • Arthralgia / immunology
  • Arthritis / complications
  • Arthritis / epidemiology
  • Arthritis / etiology*
  • Arthritis / immunology
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Cryoglobulins / metabolism
  • Fatty Liver / complications*
  • Fatty Liver / epidemiology
  • Fatty Liver / immunology
  • Female
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / immunology
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pennsylvania / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantibodies
  • Cryoglobulins
  • rheumatoid arthritis specific protein, human