Objective: We investigated the presence of anti-GOR antibodies in patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, since both autoimmune pathogenetic processes and a high prevalence of HCV infection are present in this syndrome.
Methods: We compared these cases to patients with HCV-related chronic active hepatitis or alcoholism, and to ex-blood donors. A total of 60 patients with biopsy-proven chronic liver disease were studied.
Results: HCV related markers, cryoglobulins, anti-GOR antibodies and ANA were detected in all of the groups.
Conclusion: Our data would appear to indicate that anti-GOR are related to the presence of HCV chronic hepatitis and not to cryoglobulinemia or chronic liver damage.