title: Hepatitis C cure with antiviral therapy--benefits beyond the liver.
abstract: Liver disease is the major complication of chronic HCV infection. However, extrahepatic complications are common (50-75%), including mixed cryoglobulinaemia and B-cell lymphomas. Given that chronic hepatitis C has become curable using expensive oral direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), it seems worth revisiting the whole spectrum and burden of disease in HCV carriers.Herein, we update the most clinically significant medical complications associated with chronic hepatitis C and the evidence of benefits that would derive from a wide use of curative DAA therapies.Chronic HCV infection is associated with a broad spectrum of clinical conditions, including distinct rheumatic disorders (polyarthritis, sicca syndrome), lymphoproliferative conditions (mixed cryoglobulinaemia, monoclonal gammapathies and B-cell lymphomas) and damage at other organs due to persistent systemic inflammation, leading to renal, bone, neurological and/or cardiovascular disease. Eradication of HCV with DAAs is associated with amelioration and/or resolution of most liver-related and extrahepatic complications. Ultimately, gains in quality of life and survival favour treating everyone with hepatitis C regardless of liver fibrosis stage.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, La Paz University Hospital & IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain. vsoriano@dragonet.es.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Labarga
authors.forename: José V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Montero
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Mendoza
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benítez-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barreiro
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002423:Cause of Death; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D009026:Mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents