title: Fibrin ring granuloma in chronic hepatitis C: virus-related vasculitis and/or immune complex disease?
abstract: Fibrin ring granulomas are rare lesions whose pathophysiology has remained somewhat elusive. It has been suggested that these peculiar lesions are related to focal vasculitis with endothelial injury and deposition of immune complexes. Fibrin ring granulomas have been described in Q fever; in viral infections such as cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis A virus; and in other conditions. We submit the first reported case of fibrin ring granuloma in a patient with chronic hepatitis C infection, in whom other potential etiologies have been excluded, and offer a brief review of available literature on the pathogenesis of both conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10003, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Glazer
authors.forename: Asim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ejaz
authors.forename: Curtis James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Coley
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bednarek
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Theise
mesh_terms: D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism; D006099:Granuloma / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D005337:Fibrin