PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 17048414

[Vasculitis and liver disease].

Abstract

Extrahepatic manifestations of liver diseases especially the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infection and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infection may occur during acute and/or chronic viral hepatitis. Besides a serum like illness with fever, arthralgia and urticaria, haematological disorders with transient bone marrow suppression and cryoglobulinemia have been described. Vasculitis is a rare complication of viral hepatitis. However, HCV can trigger a cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and may clinically present with purpura, arthritis, neuropathy, glomerulonephritis and fatigue. Panarteritis nodosa is frequently associated with HBV infection, which is caused by deposits of immune complexes in the arterial wall. Therapy of both types of vasculitis depends on the severity of disease and may include immunosuppressive agents as well as antivirals.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

H C Spangenberg, H E Blum. 2006-10-04. [Vasculitis and liver disease].. https://doi.org/10.1024/1661-8157.95.40.1557

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Extrahepatic manifestations of hepatitis C virus.

Given the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, its clinical sequelae account for a significant proportion of patients presenting to gastroenterologists and hepatologists. Whereas the hepatic manifestations of hepatitis C are well described, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, the extrahepatic manifestations, though common, are less well appreciated. Although nonspecific, fatigue and arthralgias are very common in those with chronic hepatitis C. Extrahepatic syndromes have been reported in as much as 36% of HCV patients, but the exact prevalence is not known. Patients with these syndromes can be divided into those with a high degree of association and those with a more moderate or mild association with HCV. The most prevalent extrahepatic diseases with the highest degree of association with HCV are the essential mixed cryoglobulins with skin, neurologic, renal, and rheumatologic complications. Non-cryoglobulin diseases with a less definite relationship to HCV include systemic vasculitis, splenic lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda, and the sicca syndromes. This article highlights the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of these disorders.

Cryoglobulinemia↗

[Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes revealed by purpura pigmentosa progressiva associated with cryoglobulinemia and chronic hepatitis C infection].

BACKGROUND: Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes is occasionally associated with chronic hepatitis C infection. Antiviral hepatitis C therapy has been recently reported to be efficacious against splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes. We report a new case revealed by cutaneous symptoms. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old patient with arthritis and neuropathy of the lower limbs consulted for vascular purpura on both legs. The blood picture showed an increase in villous lymphocytes leading to a diagnosis of splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes. Histologic examination of a cutaneous biopsy specimen showed thrombosis of the superficial dermal vessels, associated with cryoglobulinemia with renal and neurologic failure, a satellite of hepatitis C virus infection. The patient was treated with interferon, ribavirin and plasmapheresis. DISCUSSION: Vascular purpura, often associated with cryoglobulinemia, may reveal chronic hepatitis C infection. The efficacy of interferon and ribavirin treatment for splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes associated with hepatitis C infection has already been documented, and results in remission of cryoglobulinemia and lymphoma as well a eradication of viral load in 78% patients.

Cryoglobulinemia↗