Cryoglobulinemic vasculitis in a patient
with chronic hepatitis C infection
Svobodová R.1, Šedová L. 1, Ebenová E. 2, Urbánek P.3
1Revmatologický ústav, Praha, 2NsP Karviná, 3IV. interní klinika VFN, Praha |
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Summary:
The authors highlight the possible occurrence of extrahepatic manifestations of chronic infection of
hepatitis C virus. Many of them are related to locomotive apparatus and sometimes misinterpreted
as inflammatory rheumatic disease. One of them is represented by cryoglobulinemic vasculitis. The
authors emphasize the necessity of early diagnosis of this infection because its eradication can lead
to complete remission of the extrahepatic manifestations. The paper deals with the case report of 43-
year-old patient with long history of polyarthralgias, arthritis, myalgias, fatigue and mild fever. She
also suffered from Raynaud’s phenomenon and skin manifestations on both upper and lower extremities
that were histologically verified as urticarial vasculitis. Immunosuppressive treatment had
no appropriate effect. When suspicion for chronic infection of hepatitis C virus was confirmed, antivirus
treatment led to a disappearance of subjective and objective manifestations of the disease.
Key words:
hepatitis C virus, extrahepatic manifestation, mixed cryoglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemic
vasculitis
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