Neuromuscular Diseases Associated With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a growing international health problem, and more than 170 million people are chronic carriers. Up to 50% of HCV-positive patients develop at least one extrahepatic manifestation during the course of disease. To varying degrees of certainty, there is evidence of an association between chronic HCV infection and a variety of neuromuscular diseases. The pathogenesis of most extrahepatic diseases remains unclear but possibly includes HCV lymphotropism and/or HCV-induced autoantibodies. The therapeutic approach to HCV-associated autoimmune disorders entails eradication of HCV with one of the recombinant interferon-alpha preparations with or without additional immunosuppressive drugs.

Hepatitis C virus infection and autoimmune diseases

“…Glomerulonephritis has been associated with HCV, especially in children,46,47 and immune- mediated skin diseases, especially oral lichen planus, have been linked with HCV 48–50. Neurologic autoimmune diseases, including myelitis51 and encephalomyelitis,52 as well as several neuromuscular diseases, have also been reported in the course of HCV infection 53. A case of relapsing polychondritis associated with HCV infection has been recently observed 54.…”

Seronegative myasthenia gravis in association with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 and hepatitis C

“…There is considerable evidence implicating hepatitis C virus (HCV) to be associated with a variety of neuromuscular and multiple autoimmune conditions, including MG.[26] Although for treating HCV-associated autoimmune disorders there are several newer therapies available, for such cases, recombinant interferon-alpha therapy is still the preferred choice. [6]…”