Vasculitis Associated with Cryoglobulinemia and HCV

LEUKOCYTOCLASTIC VASCULITIS ASSOCIATED WITH MIXED CRYOGLOBULINEMIA AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is frequently associated with chronic hepatitis, We report a patient with mixed cryoglobulinemia, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and palpable purpura. The skin manifestations were diagnosed as leucocytoclastic vasculitis in view of both the clinical appearance and the histological findings. In this study, we demonstrated the presence of IgG-class anti-HCP antibody, HCV-RNA and IgA-class rheumatoid factor in the cryoprecipitate. These results Suggest that the cryoglobulinemia in this case was caused by aggregation of an immune complex comprised of HCV and anti-HCV antibody with IgA-type-rheumatoid factor, and that this led to a cutaneous vasculitis.

Author: Y TANAKA, NAGASAKI UNIV, SCH MED, DEPT DERMATOL, 1-7-1 SAKAMOTO, NAGASAKI 852, JAPAN
Source: BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 1997 FEB;136(2):272-274

Read more about HCV and cryoglobulinemia at the links below:
Gangrene in Cryoglobulinemia Associated with HCV

Study of HCV Related Cryoglobulinemia

Systemic Manifestions and Liver Disease in Patients with HCV and Cryoglobulinemia

Central Nervous System Involvement in Patients with HCV-related Cryoglobulinemia

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