Prevalence of circulating immune complexes in anti-HCV reactive chronic renal failure patients

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C has been shown to be associated with a series of autoimmune diseases. HCV-anti HCV circulating immune complexes (CIC) may be involved in tissue damage. To assess the role of HCV-anti HCV immune complexes mediated renal immunopathogenesis, frequency of raised CIC-C1q was studied in anti-HCV reactive chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. The study group was comprised of 103 patients, of which 70 patients were CRF and for the comparison CIC levels in 33 viral hepatitis patients without renal problems were also checked. Among them, 43 CRF patients and 18 viral hepatitis patients were found to be anti-HCV antibody reactive. Elevated CIC-C1q levels (>50 μg eq ml −1) were seen in 68% of anti-HCV reactive CRF patients in comparison with 19% of the anti-HCV non-reactive CRF patients. While 22% of the anti-HCV reactive and 20% of the anti-HCV non-reactive viral hepatitis patients had CIC-C1q levels >50 μg eq ml −1. The elevated levels of CIC in anti-HCV reactive CRF patients suggests the possible role of immune complex mediated immunopathogenesis.