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Post clearing virus = auto immune disorders?

I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with Sjogren's Syndrome.  After successfully responding to the sof/oly treatment to cure HCV this past summer, auto immune disorders began surfacing.  Is this a problem others are having after clearing virus with new antivirals?  

Thanks - ZM
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Avatar universal
Zarmar,  I was wondering if your feeling any better.  As Pooh has said, once you know what's wrong you can then decide upon treatment.  It's kinda unsettling to go thru treatment, curing, and then feeling worse then you did before.  Hoping your days are looking brighter.
....Kim
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7760770 tn?1435118189
since I treated, (successfully) I have dealt with many post interferon issues. I was certain I had sjogrens...My eyes felt like sandpaper and my mouth was constantly dry. I did the necessary blood work that can sometimes diagnose sjogrens but mine came out fine. It was very confusing because I had every symptom...I did have some other strange things come up though.. part of my complex system which controls my immune system came back deficient, (not like HIV)  I also did have a marker for inflammation come back. The doctor could no seem to explain these so she diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and gave me a script for gabapentin.
I still was having issues with the dryness...even without the positive blood work I am certain there is something going on. I managed the symptoms by special toothpaste, eye drops and staying hydrated. I also have the dry mouth tabs to put in before bed so my mouth isn't dried out all night. I honestly am not going to rely on my blood tests results to give me a definitive answer on whether or not I have it. I know what I am feeling.  My eyes have gotten better over time so that is reassuring. This is just my experience with it. .I wish you the best.  If I helps any, mine seems to flare up off and on, so that gives me some good days.
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1815939 tn?1377991799
If it turns out you have Sjogren's or possibly have Sjogren's, you may want to check out the Sjogren's World forum. You may want to check it out regardless because it is very informative and it may give you information that you have not yet found or read, information that may help in your quest for a diagnosis.

http://sjogrensworld.org/forums/index.php?board=1.0

It is an excellent form and there are some exceptionally knowledgeable people on that forum. I have never seen a question that someone was not able to correctly and thoroughly answer. Plus, there are many helpful ideas for dealing with symptoms.

Best of luck.
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Avatar universal
Pooh, thank you!  I have not yet been tested, but they do not want to rule this out.  I'm thinking this is from all of the years Hep and the year long therapy; at first I thought I was going CRAZY, that this was in my head, but all of my docs say it is not.  I am now waiting on my DDS from UCSF to proceed with the tests; I did have a salivary test where I produced saliva into vials.  I was left to produce saliva for 5 minutes without paraffin wax, and with wax; the sample without wax was very low; with wax high.  That is why they have a feeling this may me more than dry mouth.

Thank you again,

Anthony
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Avatar universal
I just posted a similar post then just now saw yours.  Am experiencing some weird stuff, and am clueless at this point as to what is going on.

It's the waiting that is so hard to do, especially when you can't do anything else!
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
Anthony ..... I had a lot  of Sjogren's symptoms for years and I told my PCPs about them but they had no clue what they were or even that they were related to each other or to a disease process. It was only after I finally got myself to a Rheumatologist that I was diagnosed with Sjogren's.

So, to answer your question, yes, my mouth is very dry. I have slept with water next to my bed for years because I wake up parched. Several years ago my eyes became itchy and burned. As time progressed, they got worse and felt like there was sand in them all of the time. That feeling like there is something in them, as well as the burning and itching, are from them being dry.

Some other symptoms than can be related to Sjogrens are digestive issues (burping, gas, indigestin, reflux, food or pills getting stuck in your throat or esophagus, problems swallowing, bowel issues). Other symptoms may be dry lips, dry skin, peripheral neuropathy (burning in the feet or toes, loss of sensation in the feet and toes, neuropathy of the hands), urinary problems such as bladder pain and frequent urination, joint and/or muscle aches/pains, fatigue, no energy, brain fog/memory/cognitive issues, dry nose and/or sinus issues, swollen lymph nodes, swollen salivary glands, dental issues and more. Sjogren's can also cause lung problems, kidney problems, liver problems, Lymphoma, and more. The link below gives you some information.

http://www.sjogrens.org/home/about-sjogrens-syndrome/symptoms

As you mentioned, Sjogren's is not as common in men as in women but many men do have it.

If I were you I would go to a Rheumatologist at UCSF or California Pacific Medical Center. Try to find one who is very knowledgeable about Sjogren's. Tell them all of your symptoms, including symptoms that you do not know why you have. Sjogren's can cause many symptoms and many people to not realize that their symptoms can be related to Sjogren's.

A good Rheumatologist will test you for everything Autoimmune. (Mine had about 40 tubes of blood drawn, and that is no exageration.) I came back positive ANA and positive SS-A (Sjogren's) and low Vit D. However, keep in mind that only about 50-60% of people who have Sjogren's actually have positive lab for SS-A. The rest are negative, but they do have Sjogren's, but the labs do not show it. There are other tests that can be done: Schimmer eye test, Rose Bengal eye test, salivery gland biopsy (from the lower lip), and a few others. Good Rheumatologists will treat based on symptoms even if a person has negative labs.

It is important to get diagnosed and get on treatment. Treatment can help with symptoms and can also slow down the progression of the disease. Plus, while none of us likes to have a disease, getting a diagnosis is actually a relief. If we are diagnosed, we can get treatment.

If your eyes are dry and burning, I would suggest seeing an opthamologist who is familiar with Sjogren's. You want to get treatment for the eyes because Sjogren's (due to the dryness) can cause ulcerations of the cornea and cause vision loss. You want to avoid that at all costs. I use Restasis eye drops and it keeps my eyes symtom free. It is prescription. I would suggest seeing an opthamologist at UCSF because they should be familiar with Sjogren's and should know how to treat it. Even if you do not have Sjogren's, your eyes need to be treated appropriately to prevent permanent damage.

Best of luck.

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Avatar universal
The dry eyes and mouth I have are associated with Sjogrens, HCV, blood pressure meds, etc.  Could all be factors.  A lacey white coating on my tongue and inside cheeks was Lichen Planus.  Cleared up after a course of prednisone.

My eyes are irritated, swollen often, blurred vision - a real problem.  Taking antihistamine drops, artificial tears, steroid drops, and Restasis - hope it clears up soon.  Very limiting since I struggle to read and can't see clearly on occasion.
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Avatar universal
Hi...I have been trying to figure what I have, as well as my PCP.  I completed HEP C interferon/Ribavorin 8 years ago.  I am male now 37; and have been referred to a DDS at UCSF who noticed that my mouth was very dry!  My eyes not that bad; they do burn and itch; are theses symptoms that you have?  I know this Sjogren's is not common in men, but form research it's  becoming more prevalent .

Thank you,

Anthony
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Avatar universal
Wow!  I've had dry mouth for about 6 months; my eyes are dry, but not too bad, and this randomly showed up last July 2014?  I've been going through all types of tests; I had oral thrush and that was caused by being dry!  My tongue has had a white coating for a while now...nasty!  I have not been tested yet
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Avatar universal
You are all so helpful - sorry I fell off the grid for a few months.  Family and my own health distractions got in the way.  As for how I came to Sjogren's Dx, I had sicca for several years off and on without knowing what I know now.  Eye doctor didn't refer me right away for SS assessment.  Could have missed opportunity to prevent cataracts which subsequently developed.  R eye surgery last year successful.  Can't see much in L eye. Trying to get inflammation down with restasis and steroid drops before doctor schedules me.  Since DAA tx last summer, dry eye and mouth, joint pain, lichen planus, granulomas and other signs of system disruption piled on.  I saw a Rheumatologist several months ago and Titers and blood tests confirmed Sjogrens -  now taking Plaquenil.  May have R hip replacement soon.  One thing after another.  Hope for return of energy and feeling of vitality someday soon,
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Avatar universal
What were your symptoms and/or tests that led to your dx of Sjogren's Syndrome? I, too, was given that dx after tx, but it turned out to be my thyroid. The damage has been determined to be most likely from the interferon. It can be resolved by replacing the hormone with a daily oral Rx that is very inexpensive.

If your thyroid has been tested and found normal, I urge you to read "The TSH Reference Range Wars: What's "Normal?", Who is Wrong, Who is Right..." at http://thyroid.about.com/od/gettestedanddiagnosed/a/tshtestwars.htm

I had been tested twice before, and then found a doctor who knows what he is doing at thyroidchange.org.

I wish you well!


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568322 tn?1370165440
Treatment with Sovaldi/Olysio is so new we don't know all the side effects it can cause.

Co
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Avatar universal
I have sicca symptoms post eot 20 months that I never had before. In my case it was triggered by the treatment.
It makes perfect sense that this has happened seeing as interferon ramps up the body's immune response.
Helpful - 0
1815939 tn?1377991799
As I stated in my post, either Hepatitis C  OR  Interferon can trigger Autoimmune Disorders.

So, for some people, Hepatitis C triggered their AI, and for others, it was the Interferon that triggered their AI.

The following is taken from just one article (of many) discussing the link between Hep C and AI Diseases.

"ABSTRACT"
Autoimmunity and viral infections are closely associated fields, and viruses have been proposed as a likely aetiological, contributory or triggering factors of systemic autoimmune diseases.
.
Hepatitis C virus seems to be the virus usually associated with the appearance of autoimmune diseases, and the relationship between chronic hepatitis C virus infection and some autoimmune disease has been studied. For some of these disorders their association with hepatitis C virus infection is well recognized while for others it remains probable or weak.
.
Examples of autoimmune phenomena observed in chronic hepatitis C virus infection include rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease, cryoglobulinaemia, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and sjogren syndrome. To date, the etiological role and the pathogenetic involvement of the hepatitis C infection remains unknown.The aim of this study is to assess the presence of different autoimmune manifestations of hepatitis C virus infection reported in literature."

Here is a link to the entire article:

http://hepatitiscnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2011/03/autoimmune-diseases-co-existing-with.html
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Avatar universal
I daresay that a medical treatment that by design ramps up the auto-immune system is, in all likelihood, the source of immediately subsequent auto-immune disorders, as compared to any disease one had for decades without appearance of such disorders.
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747988 tn?1396536878
yes that's what I wanted to say-thanks Pooh!!!
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1815939 tn?1377991799
Sorry to hear you have Sjogren's.

I also have Sjogren's, triggered by Hepatitis C (not by the Hep C treatment). I have had the Sjogren's for decades, long before I ever treated for Hep C.

Hepatitis C can trigger Autoimmune Diseases. Most people with Autoimmune Diseases have a genetic predisposition for getting them. Hepatitis C, as well as other viruses, can trigger the manifestations of the Autoimmune Diseases.

Interferon can also trigger Autoimmune Diseases. If you think about it, Interferon ramps up the immune system in the same way Autoimmune Diseases ramp up the immune system. So it is not surprising that Interferon can also trigger Autoimmune Diseases.

Hopefully you have a very good Rheumatologist who is treating your Sjogren's.

If you are not already a member of the Sjogren's World Forum, I would recommend joining the forum. The people on the forum are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. It helps to have so many wonderful, helpful, knowledgeable people to share experiences with and to ask questions of.

http://sjogrensworld.org/forums/index.php?board=1.0

Best of luck.
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747988 tn?1396536878
hi, there are a number of folk here who have Sjogrens from the old treatments.
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