Rheumatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus chronic infection: Indications for a correct diagnosis.

Rheumatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus chronic infection: Indications for a correct diagnosis. World J Gastroenterol. 2016 Jan 28;22(4):1405-10 Authors: Palazzi C, D'Amico E, D'Angelo S, Gilio M, Olivieri I Abstract Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepato- and lymphotropic agent that is able to induce several autoimmune rheumatic disorders: vasculitis, sicca syndrome, arthralgias/arthritis and fibromyalgia. The severity of clinical manifestations is variable and sometimes life-threatening. HCV infection can mimic many primitive rheumatic diseases, therefore, it is mandatory to distinguish HCV-related manifestations from primitive ones because the prognosis and therapeutic strategies can be fairly dissimilar. The new direct-acting antivirals drugs can help to avoid the well-known risks of worsening or new onset of autoimmune diseases during the traditional interferon-based therapies. PMID: 26819509 [PubMed - in process]
Source: World Journal of Gastroenterology : WJG - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Tags: World J Gastroenterol Source Type: research