Author/Editor		Matičič, Mojca
Title		Hepatitis C virus infection: the dermatological perspective
Type		članek
Source		Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannon Adriat
Vol. and No.		Letnik 12, št. 1
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 19-27
Language		eng
Abstract		The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common causative agent of post-transfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis. At present, HCV infection is a major public health problem all over the world with a global prevalence of 3%. It is responsible for 70% of cases of chronic hepatitis, the major cause of cirrhosis and the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV-related end-stage cirrhosis is the main reason for liver transplantation. 70-85% of mostly inapparently infected patients develop chronic infection which is generally asymptomatic. Within 20 years of infection cirrhosis may develop in 20% of them. The annual incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is 1-4%.The current treatment of chronic hepatitis C is the combination of interferon alpha and ribavirin with the sustained treatment response range of 56-82%. Chronic hepatitis C is associated with a host of extrahepatic manifestations, many of which are cutaneous. These may be arbitrarily divided into commonly associated (mixed cryoglobulinemia, porphyria cutanea tarda), associated (lichen planus, Sjogren's syndrome) and other less common conditions being reported in association with HCV Screening for HCV in the »silent pool« of infected may prevent the development of terminal, life-threatening consequences and further transmission of HCV.
Descriptors		HEPATITIS C HEPATITIS C-LIKE VIRUSES SKIN MANIFESTATIONS CRYOGLOBULINEMIA PORPHYRIA CUTANEA TARDA LICHEN PLANUS SJOGREN'S SYNDROME