Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C.
Shortly after the discovery of the hepatitis C virus, it was realized that this infectious agent caused more than just liver disease. A remarkable array of extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C has now been described. Many of these associated syndromes implicate the hepatitis C virus as a mediator of autoimmunity or of immune complex formation. These disorders include mixed essential cryoglobulinemia, autoimmune hepatitis, glomerulonephritis, thyroiditis, and possibly Sjogren's syndrome. The hepatitis C virus has also been strongly linked to two skin disorders: prophyria cutanea tarda and lichen planus. Other possible hepatitis-C-associated diseases described in the literature include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, IgA deficiency. Mooren's corneal ulcers, Behcet's syndrome, polyarthritis, Guillain-Barre' syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and others. A number of these reported diseases have either responded to or been cured by a therapeutic course of alpha interferon. This report discusses the reported extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C as of mid-1995.
Gordon
S C
SC
Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., USA.
D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000209:etiology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000821:virology; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000821:virology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000821:virology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000821:virology; D008010:Lichen Planus / Q000821:virology; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000821:virology; D017119:Porphyria Cutanea Tarda / Q000821:virology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000821:virology; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000821:virology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000821:virology; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000821:virology