A vasculite é uma síndrome inflamatória pleomórfica que acomete principalmente a parede dos vasos sangüíneos. A infecção pelo vírus C da hepatite (VCH) pode associar-se a manifestações extra-hepáticas, incluindo doenças autoimunes (1,2) . Duas formas principais de vasculite podem associar-se ao VCH: a forma com crioglobulinemia mista (CM), que envolve pequenos vasos, e aquela semelhante à poliarterite nodosa (tipo PAN), que afeta vasos de médio calibre (1,2,3) . A diferenciação entre ambas é dificultada pelas superposições de manifestações clínicas, incluindo neuropatia periférica, artralgia, mialgia, comprometimento renal e infiltrado vascular inflamatório (3) .
ABSTRACTVasculitis is a pleomorfic inflammatory syndrome that involves mainly the wall of blood vessels. The hepatitis C virus infection may be associated to extra-hepatic manifestations, including autoimmune diseases. Two forms of vasculitis have been associated to hepatitis C virus, namely: mixed cryoglobulinemia and polyarteritis nodosa. The diagnosis and the therapeutic management of these conditions are clinical challenges. There are few data available in the literature about the antiviral treatment efficacy in patients with hepatitis C virus and autoimmune diseases. We describe an unusual patient displaying vasculitis of small vessels and with hepatitis C virus infection.
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