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Platelet autoantibodies are common in hepatitis C infection, irrespective of the presence of thrombocytopenia
Author(s) -
Panzer Simon,
Seel Esther,
Brunner Markus,
Körmöczi Günther F.,
Schmid Monika,
Ferenci Peter,
PeckRadosavljevic Markus
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/j.0902-4441.2006.t01-1-ejh2888.x
Subject(s) - autoantibody , medicine , platelet , antibody , immunology , hepatitis c virus , cirrhosis , alcoholic liver disease , monoclonal antibody , hepatitis c , liver disease , chronic liver disease , virus , gastroenterology
Objective : To investigate the generation of platelet antibodies in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected individuals and their relation to the development to thrombocytopenia with the aim of using their detection as a diagnostic aid of immune thrombocytopenia in these patients. Materials and methods : We tested by the monoclonal antibody‐specific immobilization of platelet antigen assay (MAIPA) for the presence of platelet antibodies against specific glycoprotein (GP) targets (GPIIb/IIIa, GPIb/IX, GPIa/IIa, GPIIIb, GPV, and FcR γ IIa) in 48 HCV‐infected individuals of various stages of disease and compared the results with those from 35 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. Results : Thirty‐two HCV‐infected individuals (66%) had detectable platelet antibodies. The most common target was GPIIb/IIIa, but all other GP were also targets. Results were not different from patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. There was no correlation between antibodies and platelet counts, or the stage of disease, or the viral genotype, or a discernible influence of treatment with α ‐interferon. Conclusion : While platelet autoantibodies are common in individuals with HCV infection, their detection does not assist in the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia.