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Serum BLyS/BAFF predicts the outcome of acute hepatitis C virus infection

2009; Wiley; Volume: 16; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1111/j.1365-2893.2009.01093.x

1365-2893

Giuseppe Tarantino, V. Di Marco, Salvatore Petta, P.L. Almasio, F. Barbaria, Anna Licata, Giulia Bosco, Claudio Tripodo, R. Di Stefano, Antonio Craxı̀,

Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

Summary. B‐lymphocyte stimulator/B activating factor (BLyS/BAFF) is a tumour necrosis factor‐family cytokine that plays a key role in generating and maintaining the mature B‐cell pool. BLyS/BAFF expression by macrophages is stimulated by interferon‐γ and interleukin‐10, and its serum levels are increased in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to assess serum levels of BLyS/BAFF in patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC) and correlate them with disease outcome. We studied 28 patients with AHC (14 males, mean age 59.3 ± 15 years), followed for at least 7 months since onset, comparing them with 86 CHC patients and 25 healthy blood donors (HBD). BLyS/BAFF levels were assessed at baseline (within 4 weeks of onset) and during follow‐up. BLyS/BAFF median levels were significantly higher in AHC (1485 pg/mL) than in CHC (1058 pg/mL) and in HBD (980 pg/mL) ( P < 0.001). BLyS/BAFF levels were higher in AHC patients evolving to chronicity (1980 pg/mL) than in those with a self‐limited course (1200 pg/mL), ( P = 0.02). By logistic regression analysis, higher BLyS/BAFF levels were independently associated with persistence of HCV infection (OR 29.7; 95% CI: 1.73–508.20). High serum levels of BLyS/BAFF at onset of AHC can predict its evolution to chronic infection.