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Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection
Bella Garg1, Amirmohsen Arbabi2, Purnell A Kirkland3
1Internal Medicine/Rheumatology, Centinela Hospital, Los Angeles, USA.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes liver disease and numerous extrahepatic manifestations. Early recognition of these symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and effective antiviral treatment to prevent long-term complications.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a primary cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Chronic HCV infection is linked to diverse extrahepatic manifestations, contributing to significant patient morbidity and mortality.
- Extrahepatic conditions associated with HCV include essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, lymphomas, and autoimmune disorders.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a well-recognized, major cause of various liver-related conditions such as chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Apart from liver disease, chronic HCV infection is also associated with several extrahepatic manifestations that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. These extrahepatic manifestations include essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC), lymphomas, porphyria cutanea tarda, lichen planus, necrolytic acral erythema, glomerulonephritis, subclinical autoantibody formation, immune thrombocytopenia, thyroid disease, Sjögren's disease/sicca symptoms, diabetes mellitus, ocular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, neurocognitive dysfunction, and leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We are presenting a case of chronic HCV infection linked to the extrahepatic manifestations of the disease which can be directly related to HCV or indirectly related to EMC from HCV. An awareness and knowledge of these extrahepatic manifestations will highlight the importance of recognizing the symptoms for an early diagnosis and effective anti-viral treatment in order to improve or resolve the long-term complications of chronic HCV infection.
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