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Is there an association between pemphigus and hepatitis viruses? A population-based large-scale study

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Abstract

The association between pemphigus and hepatitis viruses has not been investigated sufficiently and remains unclear. Our objective was to assess the association between pemphigus and chronic hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections using a large-scale real-life computerized database. This study was conducted as a cross-sectional study utilizing the database of Clalit Health Services. The proportion of chronic HBV and HCV infections was compared between patients diagnosed with pemphigus and age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched controls. Univariate analysis was performed using chi-square and Student’s t test, and multivariate analysis was performed using a logistic regression model. A total of 1985 pemphigus patients and 9874 controls were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of HBV chronic infection in patients with pemphigus was significantly higher than in control subjects (1.2 vs. 0.6%, respectively, p = 0.008). The prevalence rate of HCV carrier state was comparable between pemphigus patients and control subjects (1.1 vs. 1.0, respectively, p = 0.732). A multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between pemphigus and HBV with a multivariate odds ratio (OR) of 1.9 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2–3.90], whereas no association between pemphigus and HCV was identified (OR 1.1, 95% CI, 0.7–1.7). In conclusion, patients with pemphigus have a greater proportion of chronic HBV but not HCV infection relative to matched controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Rambam Health Care Campus, POB 9602, 31096, Haifa, Israel

    Khalaf Kridin

  2. School of Public Health, Faculty of Social Welfare and Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel

    Shira Zelber-Sagi

  3. Department of Quality Measurements and Research, Chief Physician’s Office, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Doron Comaneshter & Arnon D. Cohen

  4. Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    Arnon D. Cohen

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  1. Khalaf Kridin
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  2. Shira Zelber-Sagi
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  3. Doron Comaneshter
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  4. Arnon D. Cohen
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Correspondence to Khalaf Kridin.

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Kridin, K., Zelber-Sagi, S., Comaneshter, D. et al. Is there an association between pemphigus and hepatitis viruses? A population-based large-scale study. Immunol Res 65, 1083–1088 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-017-8950-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-017-8950-y

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