title: Hepatitis C virus infection and its rheumatologic implications.
abstract: Extrahepatic manifestations are frequently encountered among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Many of these manifestations are autoimmune disorders, with added mortality and morbidity due to involvement of multiple organ systems. Symptoms of HCV infection and rheumatic diseases may be similar and include arthralgia, myalgia, arthritis, and vasculitis. Also, serologic abnormalities may be found in both cases. Some treatment modalities for HCV infection, including interferon therapy, may aggravate the symptoms of rheumatic diseases, thus confounding clinical presentation. It is imperative to distinguish whether symptoms such as arthralgia, myalgia, and arthritis occur in patients with HCV infection due to primary chronic HCV infection or to a newly developed rheumatologic disease process.
authors.affiliation: The authors are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Sayiner is a visiting research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Haque is an assistant professor in the Section of Rheumatology. Dr Malik is a research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Gurakar is the medical director of the Liver Transplant Program and an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
authors.forename: Zeynel A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Sayiner
authors.affiliation: The authors are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Sayiner is a visiting research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Haque is an assistant professor in the Section of Rheumatology. Dr Malik is a research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Gurakar is the medical director of the Liver Transplant Program and an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: The authors are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Sayiner is a visiting research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Haque is an assistant professor in the Section of Rheumatology. Dr Malik is a research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Gurakar is the medical director of the Liver Transplant Program and an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
authors.forename: Mohammad U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.affiliation: The authors are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr Sayiner is a visiting research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Haque is an assistant professor in the Section of Rheumatology. Dr Malik is a research fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. Dr Gurakar is the medical director of the Liver Transplant Program and an associate professor of medicine in the Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gurakar
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; autoimmune disease; rheumatologic implication