Hepatitis C Virus Infection Associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Additionally, researchers found that patients with chronic HCV infection and HBV/HCV dual infection were more likely to have RA than patients with non-chronic HBV and HCV infections, although chronic HBV infection was not associated with a high risk of developing RA.

This latter finding stands in contrast to previous studies that suggested chronic HBV infection may trigger the development of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The investigators did find, however, that chronic HBV infection with persistent or periodic impairment of liver function was associated with RA (HR 2.64, 95% CI 0.84–8.28). (posted 1/23/15)

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

Reference

1. Su FH, Wu CS, Sung FC, et al. Chronic hepatitis c virus infection is associated with the development of rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan. PLoSOne. 2014; 9(11): e113579.

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