[Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus]

ACCEPTED ASSOCIATIONS: Extrahepatic manifestations of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported in a large body of literature. It is now generally accepted that the HCV is strongly associated with so-called essential cryoglobulinemia, membrane proliferative glomerulonephritis with or without cryoglobulinemia, sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda, and with lymphocyte sialadenitis with or without a dry mouth syndrome. PROBABLE ASSOCIATIONS: Several epidemiological arguments suggest that HCV could play a role in certain types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. HCV is also sometimes implicated in periarteritis nodosa and with peripheral neuropathies with lymphocyte vasculitis. UNPROVEN ASSOCIATIONS: The role of HCV in autoimmune dysthyroidism, lichen planus, diabetics mellitus, and antiphospholipid syndromes is a subject of debate. There have also many sporadic reports of manifestations of syndromes suggesting, though not proving, an association with the hepatitis C virus.