Monoclonal gammopathy among patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

To determine the prevalence of monoclonal gammopathies in Kuwait and its association with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Serum protein electrophoresis and measurement of immunoglobulin levels were carried out prospectively in 100 consecutive patients with chronic HCV infection.

Among the 100 patients tested (82 males, 18 females; median age 45 years), 59 had polyclonal band in serum protein electrophoresis while the other 41 had a normal pattern. None of the patients had monoclonal gammopathy. The mean serum immunoglobulin levels were: IgG 18.4 g/l (range 4-39), IgA 2.9 g/l (range 0.09-8) and IgM 1.6 g/l (range 0.14-6.08).

There was no evidence of monoclonal gammopathies in patients with chronic HCV infection in Kuwait.