Extrahepatic Manifestations of Hepatitis C Virus

Prevention of hepatitis C recurrence by bridging sofosbuvir/ribavirin from pre‐ to post‐liver transplant: a real‐life strategy

“…Indeed, our therapeutic strategy, which keeps patients HCV free immediately following liver surgery, simplifies the management of the complications which can occur after LT (graft rejection, biliary complications, kidney impairment, cytomegalovirus and/or bacterial infections) . Furthermore, HCV re‐infection is also associated with worsening of extrahepatic manifestations such as diabetes and kidney damage that together with immunosuppressive drug toxicity, negatively affect the short‐ and long‐term outcome of HCV recipients . This is all the more relevant in areas such as ours where in the last decade, the median donor age increased up to 60 years in more than 50% of cases, leading to a more severe HCV recurrence .…”

From current status to optimization of HCV treatment: Recommendations from an expert panel

“…SVR in patients without cirrhosis or extrahepatic advanced disease is generally associated with the resolution of liver disease and can reduce the HCV-related extra-hepatic disease burden, i.e. diabetes, kidney impairment, lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD) and cardiovascular complications, ultimately leading to an increased survival (2,3,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Cirrhotic patients who achieve SVR may have liver fibrosis regression, A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 6 and reduced risk of hepatic decompensation and portal hypertension complications although they maintain a residual risk of HCC (16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”

“…HCV infection is associated with several extra-hepatic manifestations (EHMs) with injury of other than liver organs leading to an increased rate of morbidity and all-cause mortality independently from the degree of liver damage (2,3). The most frequent and investigated EHMs are represented by mixed cryoglobulinemia, resulting in a syndrome characterized by immune complexes deposition within small vessels which may be responsible for a systemic leukoclastic vasculitis mainly involving skin, kidneys, joints, nervous system that ultimately may switch over to NHL.…”

“…However, HCV infection is a many-sided disease able to affect organs other than the liver, causing extra hepatic manifestations with significant morbidity and also significant rates of deaths related to the extra hepatic involvement (2,3).…”

Current and future challenges in HCV: insights from an Italian experts panel

“…In addition, many HCV-infected individuals are unaware of being infected, but frequently progress to advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis, and HCC [1]. In addition to the liver, extra hepatic manifestations of HCV infection also cause significant negative impact and a substantial number of deaths [6,7].…”