The main dermatological disorders in HCV infection include (1) vasculitis
(mainly cryoglobulin-associated vasculitis, the cause of which is HCV in
most cases, and, possibly, some cases of polyarteritis nodosa); (2)
sporadic porphyria cutanea tarda; (3) cutaneous and/or mucosal lichen
planus; and (4) salivary gland lesions, characterized by lymphocytic
capillaritis, sometimes associated with lymphocytic sialadenitis
resembling that of Sjogren’s syndrome.
Numerous extrahepatic disorders have been recognised in association with HCV infection among which dermatological diseases occupy a central part. Cutaneous necrotising vasculitis, mixed cryoglobulinemia, porphyria cutanea tarda and lichen planus are the major skin diseases frequently associated with HCV infection, but other skin disorders, such as Adamantiadis-Behcet syndrome, erythema multiforme and nodosum, malacoplakia, urticaria and pruritus, may also be linked to hepatitis C. Further studies are necessary to establish or refute an aetiopathogenetic role of HCV in these conditions. Skin manifestations are also part of the clinical picture of other extrahepatic disorders associated with HCV infection, such as thyroid dysfunction and HCV-related thrombocytopenia. The response to interferon alpha (alpha-IFN) therapy in skin diseases is unpredictable with some patients ameliorating, others remaining stationary and others deteriorating. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 1998 Jan;10(1):12-21.
Hepatitis C virus is the cause of, or is associated with, various dermatological disorders. In patients with such disorders, HCV infection must be sought routinely because antiviral therapy may be beneficial in some of them. - Arch Dermatol. 1995; 131:1185-1193.
