Evaluation of hepatitis c virus infection in relation to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Abstract EN

Methodology : Anti-HCV antibodies were measured in the collected sera from 3 groups : Forty psoriasis patients, forty psoriatic arthritis patients and forty age & sex matched apparently healthy individuals as controls.

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RIBA methods were used.

Also liver transaminases were determined in the collected sera of all cases calorimetrically.

Results : ELISA detected Anti-HCV antibodies were found in 5 / 40 (12.5 %) psoriasis patients, in 7 / 40 (17.5 %) psoriatic arthritis patients and in 3 / 40 (7.5 %) controls.

All reactive sera with ELISA were also positive with RIBA, except in psoriatic patients only 4 out 5 positive results were confirmed positive with REBA.

Elevated liver transaminases were detected in 18 / 80 (22.5 %) patients and in 5 / 40 (12.5 %) controls.

In the presence of liver affection in psoriatic patients, infection with HCV should be considered as an alternative diagnosis on the strength of the high prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies found in those patients.