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Updated: Jul 10, 2026

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Ischemic stroke accompanied by anti-PR3 antibody-related cerebral vasculitis and hepatitis C virus infection
Inimioara Mihaela Cojocaru1, M Cojocaru, Cecilia Burcin
1Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Clinic of Neurology, Colentina Hospital, Bucharest, Romania. mcojocar@cmb.ro
Background:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been found to be strikingly associated with autoimmune phenomena. Autoantibodies are commonly found in patients with HCV infection.
Purpose:
The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection.
Material And Methods:
ANCA were determined in sera from 36 patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection (18 females, 18 males, mean age 75+/-10 years) and 44 healthy controls. Assays employed were indirect immunofluorescence for detection of ANCA and ELISA for anti-proteinase 3 (anti-PR3-ANCA). No one of the patients studied received IFN-alpha treatment before blood collection.
Results:
ANCA were positive in 21 out of 36 (58 %) patients with ischemic stroke and HCV infection. All sera with ANCA showed cANCA patterns and contained anti-PR3 specificity. HCV patients with ANCA showed a higher prevalence of cerebral vasculitis.
Conclusion:
HCV may be regarded as a possible causative factor in ANCA-related vasculitis.
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