Sjögren's disease & overlap diseases
Sicca manifestations and lymphoproliferation in hepatitis C virus: effects of direct acting antiviral therapy on dryness and B-cell activity compared to Sjögren’s disease
Authors' conclusion
HCV patients with sicca manifestations treated by DAAs showed significant clinical and immunological improvements.
Study context
- Population
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients with and without sicca manifestations and patients with Sjögren's disease (SjD)3 groups
- Participants
- 60 patients
- Exposure
- HCV with sicca vs HCV without sicca vs SjD
- Group 1n = 20
- Group 2n = 20
- Group 3n = 20reference
- Outcome
- Group 1 sicca manifestations after SVR vs before DAAs
- Follow-up
- After SVR
Methodological detailsbefore-and-after evaluation
- Before-and-after evaluation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- VAS dry eye improved
- P-values ˂0.003
- VAS dry mouth improved
- ˂0.002
- VAS fatigue improved
- ˂0.016
- VAS pain improved
- ˂0.001
- ESSPRI improved
- ˂0.002
- ESSDAI improved
- ˂0.014
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Virological response to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs)
- All HCV cases had sustained viral response (SVR)
Group 1 B-cell markers after SVR vs before
- Rheumatoid factor (RF) improved
- P-values ˂0.013
- Serum β2M improved
- 0.001
Group 1 (before treatment) vs Group 3
- Group 1 higher frequency of RF
- P-values 0.021
- Group 1 higher frequency of cryoglobulins
- 0.003
- Group 1 higher frequency of polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia
- ˂0.001
- Group 3 higher VAS dry eye, dry mouth, fatigue and pain scores
- P-values ˂0.001 in all
- Group 3 higher frequency of anti-Ro and anti-La
- P < 0.001
Group 1 vs Group 2
- Group 1 higher serum β2M
- P-values 0.006
- Group 1 higher polyclonal serum protein electrophoresis
- 0.047
Original publication
Sicca manifestations and lymphoproliferation in hepatitis C virus: effects of direct acting antiviral therapy on dryness and B-cell activity compared to Sjögren’s disease. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 7 July 2025. doi:10.
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