title: Extrahepatic immune related manifestations in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: The association of chronic hepatitis C with immune related syndromes has been frequently reported. There is a great range of clinical manifestations affecting various systems and organs such as the skin, the kidneys, the central and peripheral nervous system, the musculoskeletal system and the endocrine glands. Despite the high prevalence of immune related syndromes in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the exact pathogenesis is not always clear. They have been often associated with mixed cryoglobulinemia, a common finding in chronic hepatitis C, cross reaction with viral antigens, or the direct effect of virus on the affected tissues. The aim of this review is to analyze the reported hepatitis C virus immune mediated syndromes, their prevalence and clinical manifestations and to discuss the most supported theories regarding their pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens 17123, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampaki
authors.affiliation: Maria Tampaki, John Koskinas, Academic Department of Medicine, Medical School of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens 17123, Greece.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koskinas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
keywords: Autoimmune; Cryoglobulinemia; Extrahepatic manifestations; Hepatitis C virus