Viral Infections as a cause of Arthritis

Rheumatic complaints secondary to viral infections are usually brief, self-limited and nondestructive. They may accompany almost any type of viral illness, and the arthritic presentation is onspecific. These manifestations are protean, ranging from arthralgia to vasculitis. Often the cause of the rheumatic complaint remains elusive because of the prompt resolution of the viral infection; Evaluation for autoimmune diseases should, be postponed until the symptoms have been present for at least six weeks, However, some viral diseases, such as parvovirus, chronic hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections, can produce long-lasting rheumatic symptoms. Since the arthritis associated with hepatitis C infection has only recently been recognized, it is important to search for this association in patients who have atypical rheumatic complaints, risk factors for hepatitis and alterations in liver enzymes, so that an accurate diagnosis can be established and the pathophysiology can be better understood.

Author: SIEGEL LB, FINCH UNIV HLTH SCI CHICAGO MED SCH, DIV RHEUMATOL, 3333 GREEN BAY RD N, CHICAGO, IL 60064 Source: AMERICAN FAMILY PHYSICIAN 1996 NOV1;54(6):2009-2015

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