The association between hepatitis B, hepatitis C and systemic sclerosis: a cross-sectional study

Purpose of review To investigate the association between systemic sclerosis (SSc) to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriage. We utilized the database of Clalit Health Services, the largest healthcare organization in Israel and performed a cross-sectional study. Recent findings The study included 2431 SSc patients and 12710 age-and-sex matched controls, HBV was found in 38 SSc patients (1.56%) and 64 controls (0.5%). HCV was found in 30 SSc patients (1.23%) and 83 controls (0.65%). In multivariable logistic regression model, HBV was found to be associated with smoking, dialysis treatment and SSc [odds ratio (OR) 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92–4.53]. HCV was found to be associated with dialysis treatment and SSc (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.1–2.66). A trend was found between both HBV and HCV toward low socioeconomic status. SSc patients with HBV had demonstrated higher rates of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis treatment. Summary In our study, HBV and HCV were found to be associated with SSc. Common immune mechanisms or therapeutic modalities may serve as mediators of this association.