AUTOIMMUNITY IN HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) CARRIERS

Hepatitis C has been associated with extra-hepatic manifestation of autoimmunity, which is expressed by the presence of non-organ specific autoantibodies and mainly cryoglobulinaemia in the patients. In this paper, we review some of these autoimmune aspects using as a reference Brazilian HCV carriers living in the state of Bahia. Key words: hepatitis C, autoimmunity, cryoglobulinaemia, autoantibodies, Brazil.