From Hepatitis Alert, Vol. II No. 2 Summer 1996 (Published by the Hepatitis Foundation Intl.)

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infectious agent which can cause more than liver disease. An article by Stuart C. Gordon, MD of William Beaumont Hospital, Michigan discusses these additional syndromes caused by HCV. The hepatitis C virus appears to act as a cause of immunity or of immune complex formation. The diseases clearly related are: mixed essential cryoglobulinemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, porphyria cutanea tarda, and thyroiditis. Diseases which are possibly related are: lichen planus, Mooren's corneal ulcers, Sjogren's syndrome, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. Many of the diseases respond to treatment with alpha interferon. He also discusses a number of diseases in which there is an unproven relationship in an article in Digestive Diseases (1996;14:157-168).

Note: Clicking on the Blue words will take you to the information you're interested in reading.

• Autoimmunity and HCV
• HCV and Brain Function
• Cutaneous disorders and HCV
• Retinal Complications During Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C
• HCV Infection of Nerves in Cryoglobulinemia
• Variant of Myocarditis Associated with HCV Infection
• Renal manifestations of hepatitis C infection
• Optic Tract Neuropathy Complicating Interferon Treatment
• Oral Lichen Planus and HCV
• Fibromyalgia Associated HCV Infection
• Arthritis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection
• Diabetes and Gallstones in Chronic Viral Liver Disease
• Chronic Fatigue in Patients with Liver Disease
• HCV and Cardiomyopathy
• Scarring Alopecia and Sclerodermatous Changes of the Scalp in a Patient with Hepatitis C Infection
• Non-hepatic manifestations & combined diseases in HCV infection
• Psychological stress, depression, and quality of life in HCV
• Long term affect of iron removal on HCV
• HCV in Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
• Vasculitis Associated with Cryoglobulinemia and HCV
• Hepatitis Associated Vasculitic Multiple Mononeuropathy
• Rheumatic Manifestations and Immunological Abnormalities in Patients with HCV
• HCV and Oxidative Reactants
• Immune Responses in HCV Infection
• Immunological Disorders in HCV
• Bronchial Asthma - Another Extrahepatic Manifestation of HCV
• Hepatitis C Infection Presenting with Rheumatic Manifestations
• HCV and Diabetes
• Hepatitis C Virus in Dermatology
• Viral infection as a cause of arthritis
• The Phenomena of Leg Pigmentation in Liver Disease
• Serum Cholesterol and Chronic HCV
• Autoimmune hepatitis and hepatitis C
• Hepatitis C virus-associated fulminant hepatic failure
• Hepatitis-Associated Aplastic Anemia
• HCV Infection and Extrahepatic Malignancies
• HCV Associated Nephropathy
• Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Associated with HCV Antibodies
• Extrahepatic Immunological Disorders May Be Caused by Hepatitis C
• Subacture Thyroiditis During Interferon Therapy
• Leucocytoclastic vasculitis associated with hepatitis C virus antibodies

Anemia and Hepatitis C Treatment
In opposition to what seems logical, research demonstrates that becoming anemic while on Hepatitis C therapy is not such a bad thing.

Bristol-Myers Gains Momentum with All-Oral Hep C Therapy
In a recent study, over one third of previous non-responders cleared Hepatitis C with an interferon-free combo of two Bristol-Myers experimental drugs.

Hepatitis C Gains Access to Brain Cells
Helping to explain why Hepatitis C can cause extrahepatic manifestations (problems outside of the liver), American researchers confirmed that certain brain cells are susceptible to the Hepatitis C virus.