Open AccessExtrahepatic immunological complications of hepatitis C virus infection
Author(s) -
Dimitrios Vassilopoulos,
Leonard H. Calabrese
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
aids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.195
H-Index - 216
eISSN - 1473-5571
pISSN - 0269-9370
DOI - 10.1097/01.aids.0000192080.56808.38
Subject(s) - immunology , pathogenesis , hepatitis c virus , cryoglobulinemia , autoantibody , medicine , immune system , virus , sialadenitis , immunopathology , viral disease , virology , pathology , antibody , salivary gland
Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is frequently associated with a number of extrahepatic complications. In the majority of cases the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are immune mediated, as evidenced by the presence of circulating autoantibodies (mixed cryoglobulinemia), whereas for others a localized host cellular immune response is implicated (e.g. sialadenitis, lichen planus). In this review, the latest data on the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the most common autoimmune extrahepatic manifestations of chronic HCV infection are presented.