Skin manifestations in patients with hcv–related chronic liver disease

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to trigger both hepatic and extra-hepatic manifestations (1,2).

Among the latter, the most investigated is mixed cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (MCV), especially of type II (3, 4), usually detected in 40-60% of patients chronically infected with enhanced the risk to develop lymphomas (5). Autoimmune disorders including thyroid disease, and diabetes mellitus have also been associated with chronic HCV infection (6). Skin manifestations may occur in up to 17% of HCV positive patients (7) and are the result of the immuno-mediated damage induced by the virus itself, and/or the associated liver injury (8). Cutaneous palpable purpura is the most frequent (70-90%). Porfiria cutanea tarda (PCT) is detected in 50% of HCV-infected patients (8). Observational and cohort studies described an association between psoriasis and HCV infection independently from exposure to interferon treatments (9). Instead, cutaneous Kaposi's sarcoma was reported only once in association with HCV (10). In this retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and clinical features of skin disorders in a large cohort of patients with HCV-related liver disease.

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