HCV and Autoimmunity in Rheumatic Diseases

Abstract

: HCV is a global health problem affecting mainly the liver and often characterized by extrahepatic manifestions mediated by autoimmune reactions. Among these, arthritis and arthralgia are most frequent, as well as the presence of cryoglobulinemia that may induce vasculitis, and sicca syndrome. Thus, HCV appears to be a trigger for autoimmune response as demonstrated by the finding of autoantibody in a high percentage of serum of these patients. Therefore, it is important that clinicians recognize these autoimmune manifestations as symptoms due to an autoimmune activity triggered by HCV, in order to give the correct diagnosis and start an effective therapy strategy. Therefore, clinical examination, searching of markers of infection as well as autoantibody patterns should be performed to make a correct differential diagnosis. The treatment should be based on antiviral drugs associated to immunosuppressive drugs according to autoimmune manifestations.