[Extrahepatic manifestations of chronic viral liver diseases]

The study of large groups of patients with chronic liver diseases of viral etiology (including those induced by HBV and HCV) has revealed extrahepatic manifestations which by their mechanisms formed 2 groups. The first group represents disorders related to delayed hypersensitivity in combination with immunocomplex reactions (lesions of the joints, skeletal muscles, lungs, myocardium, etc). The second group includes disorders of primarily immunocomplex genesis (vasculitis): skin vasculitis, Raynaud's syndrome, nodular periiarteritis, mixed cryoglobulinemia, etc.). Special group represents diseases of blood: immune cytopenias, monoclonal immunoglobulinopathy, malignant lymphoproliferative diseases. These findings and literature data on extrahepatic replication of HBV and HCV validate the diagnosis of "chronic generalized HBV or HCV infection" with listing of all manifestations of these infections.