Original article
English
Mohamed Lateiwish; Ahmed Elhassi
Hematology Unit, Jamahiriya hospital, Benghazi, Libya
Garyounis Medical Journal Vol. 22, No.1. 2005:44-46
Abstract
Background: An association between monoclonal gammopathies and chronic liver diseases was first reported in 1968. No clear association was recognized until after the isolation of hepatitis C virus. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferative disorders.
Objective: to determine the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathy in Libyan patients with hepatitis C virus infection.
Design: Case — series study.
Patients and methods: Serum protein electrophoresis, serum iinmunoelectrophoresis and serum cryoglobulin were carried out in 100 patients with documented hepatitis C virus infection. Results and conclusion: Serum protein electrophoresis showed monoclonal band in the y region in 3 patients (3%), serum Immunoelectrophoresis (for the 3 patients with monoclonal band) showed the presence of a monoclonal immunoglobulin G of the kappa type and serum cryoglobulin was negative. Monoclonal gammopathy is evident among Libyan patients with hepatitis C virus infection arid its prevalence is within the reported range from other countries.
Keywords: hepatitis C virus, protein electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis, monoclonal gammopathy
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