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Hepatitis C virus and lichen planus
Author(s) -
NAGAO YUMIKO,
SATA MICHIO
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2003.03324.x
Subject(s) - medicine , porphyria cutanea tarda , hepatitis c virus , cryoglobulinemia , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis c , membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis , immunology , dermatology , virus , pathology , glomerulonephritis , kidney
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important factor in the development of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent years it has become known that HCV induces various extrahepatic manifestations including mixed cryoglobulinemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune thyroiditis, malignant lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda and lichen planus. Although the mechanisms of extrahepatic manifestations remain unclear, it is known that interferon (IFN) therapy and coadministration of IFN with ribavirin are effective in promoting the disappearance or alleviation of such extrahepatic lesions, which have tended to be overlooked. The present review focuses on lichen planus, one of the major extrahepatic manifestations. © 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd