RHEUMATIC MANIFESTATIONS OF HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hep atitis and has been associated with the occurrence of mixed cryoglobul inaemia. Treatment with interferon alpha can lower the titres of HCV, improve liver lesions and decrease cryoglobulins. In this report, a pa tient with HCV infection is described who developed arthritis, cutaneo us vasculitis and sialoadenitis, together with hepatitis and cryoglobu linaemia. Clinical remission, particularly of the systemic symptoms, w as achieved during treatment with interferon alpha. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.