Ocular manifestations of hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

Approximately 3.6 million persons in the United States are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a condition with both hepatic and extrahepatic sequelae. Although no pathognomonic manifestation of HCV infection in the eye has been demonstrated, associations between HCV infection and various ocular syndromes have been reported in small case series and individual patients. At this time, the ocular manifestations of HCV infections best supported by the literature include a dry eye syndrome similar to Sjögren syndrome, and ischemic retinopathy caused by either an HCV-induced vasculitis or treatment with interferon. Patients with diabetes seem to be more susceptible to interferon retinopathy and to subsequent permanent visual loss. There have been no cases of HCV transmission via corneal transplantation, suggesting that current cadaveric screening protocols are effective in preventing this route of transmission. Screening for HCV should be considered in patients with risk factors for HCV infection who suffer from unexplained ischemic retinopathy or dry eyes.

Extrahepaticus manifesztációk idült hepatitis C-vírus-fertőzöttekben

“…A Sjögren-szindróma okozta xerophthalmia, a cryoglobulinaemiás vasculitis miatti ischaemiás károsodás és a diabeteses retinopathia az idült HCV-fertőzöttekben megjelenő leggyakoribb szemészeti eltérések [45]. Ischaemiás retinopathia interferonkezelés következtében is kialakulhat.…”

“…Ischaemiás retinopathia interferonkezelés következtében is kialakulhat. Diabeteses betegek érzékenyebbek az interferonkezelés okozta ischaemiás retinopathia kialakulá-sára [45].…”

Hepatitis C as a systemic disease: virus and host immunologic responses underlie hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations

“…112 However, other investigators reported a negative correlation between HCV infection and Mooren's ulcer. [114][115][116] It is hoped that further detailed studies will clarify this issue.…”

Oculo-renal Disorders in Infectious Diseases

“…The ocular manifestations of HCV infections best supported by the literature include a ''dry-eye'' syndrome similar to Sjogren's syndrome, and ischemic retinopathy caused by either an HCVinduced vasculitis or treatment with interferon. There have been no cases of HCV transmission via corneal transplantation, suggesting that current cadaveric screening protocols are effective in preventing this route of transmission [83]. HCV infection has been associated with a variety of ophthalmologic disorders including corneal ulcers (Mooren's ulcer), uveitis, and scleritis [84][85][86], and sicca syndrome in patients with HCV-related Sjogren's syndrome [87].…”