TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatitis C, cryoglobulinemia, and cutaneous vasculitis associated with unusual and serious manifestations
AU - Méndez, Patricia
AU - Saeian, Kia
AU - Reddy, K. Rajender
AU - Younossi, Zobair M.
AU - Kerdel, Francisco
AU - Badalamenti, Salvatore
AU - Jeffers, Lennox J.
AU - Schiff, Eugene R.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - Hepatitis C viral infection is currently the leading cause of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It also is a major predisposing factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is estimated that approximately 1-2% of patients with hepatitis C infection have nonhepatic manifestations that are protean in nature. In this report, we describe six unusual cases of nonhepatic manifestations: abdominal vasculitis in two, peripheral neuropathy in two, and one patient each with central nervous system vasculitis and necrotizing cutaneous vasculitis. All patients had cutaneous vasculitis and cryoglobulinemia. None of our patients had cirrhosis, yet three of the six patients died. Because of the severe manifestations, aggressive therapy was instituted with interferon, immunosuppressive medications, i.v. immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis. Our report underscores the importance of recognizing nonhepatic manifestations in patients with hepatitis C infection that may be associated with high morbidity and mortality.
AB - Hepatitis C viral infection is currently the leading cause of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. It also is a major predisposing factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. It is estimated that approximately 1-2% of patients with hepatitis C infection have nonhepatic manifestations that are protean in nature. In this report, we describe six unusual cases of nonhepatic manifestations: abdominal vasculitis in two, peripheral neuropathy in two, and one patient each with central nervous system vasculitis and necrotizing cutaneous vasculitis. All patients had cutaneous vasculitis and cryoglobulinemia. None of our patients had cirrhosis, yet three of the six patients died. Because of the severe manifestations, aggressive therapy was instituted with interferon, immunosuppressive medications, i.v. immunoglobulin, and plasmapheresis. Our report underscores the importance of recognizing nonhepatic manifestations in patients with hepatitis C infection that may be associated with high morbidity and mortality.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9270(01)02622-3
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9270(01)02622-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 11513197
AN - SCOPUS:0034890185
VL - 96
SP - 2489
EP - 2493
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
SN - 0002-9270
IS - 8
ER -