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. 2019 Feb;42(2):82-89.
doi: 10.1016/j.gastrohep.2018.08.005. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rods and rings in patients with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals: The role of prior treatment with interferon plus ribavirin

[Article in English, Spanish]
Mercè Alsius  1 , María José Ferri  1 , Maria Buxó  2 , Carme López  3 , Isabel Serra  3 , Xavier Queralt  1 , Doroteo Acero  4
Affiliations

Autoantibodies to cytoplasmic rods and rings in patients with hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals: The role of prior treatment with interferon plus ribavirin

[Article in English, Spanish]
Mercè Alsius et al. Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: The cytoplasmic rods-rings (RR) pattern is found in hepatitis C (HCV) patients treated with interferon-ribavirin when studied with ANA-IIF. Ribavirin aggregates/induces antigenic changes in IMPDH-2, an enzyme necessary for ribavirin action.

Patients and method: Prospective search for anti-RR autoantibodies (HEp-2, INOVA) in patients treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) from October 2015 to June 2017. HCV-negative patients from up to June 2016 acted as controls. Anti-RR was analyzed at baseline and, mainly, during treatment and follow-up. The Chi-square test, Student's t-test and a logistic regression analysis were performed.

Results: Between October 2015 and June 2016, 1258 men and 2389 women who were HCV-negative and 137 men and 112 women who were HCV-positive patients were studied. Approximately 22.9% of HCV-negative and 13.2% of HCV-positive were ANA-IIF-positive (p<0.05). Three HCV-negative (0.08%) and 23 (9.2%) HCV-positive patients had anti-RR (p<0.001). A total of 122 patients received DAAs; 30 received DAA+RBV; 46 pre-treated with IFN-RBV received DAA; 31 pre-treated with IFN-RBV received DAA+RBV; 16 received IFNpeg-RBV; and 24 received IFN-RBV-DAA. None of the 122 DAA-treated patients showed anti-RR; anti-RR were identified in 14.8% of those treated with DAA-RBV; in 25.9% of those pre-treated with IFN-RBV receiving DAA; in 22.2% of IFN-RBV-pre-treated patients who received DAA+RBV; in 7.4% of those treated with IFNpeg-RBV and in 29.6% of those treated with IFNpeg-RBV-DAA. The multivariate analysis showed significant associations between anti-RR and "Exposure to IFN" and "Time of exposure to RBV".

Conclusions: Anti-RR autoantibodies were detected only in patients with current or past treatments with RBV, even in cases in which only DAAs were later administered.

Keywords: ANA-IFI; ANA-IIF; Bastones y anillos; Chronic hepatitis C; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis crónica C; Ribavirin; Ribavirina; Rods and rings.

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