PREVALENCE OF CRYOGLOBULINS AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Purpose and methods. In order to evaluate the prevalence of positive h epatitis C virus (HCV) serology and cryoglobulinemia in human immunode ficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, the prevalence and the clinica l significance of cryoglobulinemia were prospectively studied in a coh ort of 86 HIV-infected subjects seen as outpatients. They were compare d to a control group consisting of 101 HIV-HCV+ patients being followe d at the same hospital. Results. HCV serology was positive in 53/86 (6 1.6%) patients, 25 (47.2%) of whom had detectable cryoglobulins in the ir sera although only I had clinical symptoms consistent with cryoglob ulinemia. Cryoglobulinemia was also detected in 9/33 (27.3%) HCV- pati ents, with only one of them presenting clinical symptoms. Although the mean cryoglobulin concentration was lower for HIV+ patients than in c ontrols (268 versus 585 mg/l, p < 0.01), their prevalence (39.5% and 2 7.2%, respectively) was higher (p < 0.03). Conclusion. Cryoglobulinemi a is frequently detected in HIV-infected patients, regardless of their HCV serology, but is poorly correlated with clinical symptoms.