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Hepatitis C virus and autoimmunity

Autoimmunity Highlightsvolume 1, pages23–35 (2010) | Download Citation

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with several extrahepatic manifestations. About 60% of patients infected with HCV develop at least one extrahepatic manifestation. The majority of these diseases seem to be triggered through autoimmune mechanisms, such as autoantibody production, autoreactive T cells and complex autoimmune mechanisms leading to systemic autoimmune disorders. In this review we categorize these diseases into three groups according to the main pathogenetic process involved, in particular B-cell-mediated, T-cell-mediated and complex autoimmune systemic diseases.

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  1. Department of Dermatology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    • Barbara C. Böckle
    •  & Norbert T. Sepp

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Keywords

  • Hepatitis C
  • Extrahepatic manifestations
  • Autoimmune mechanism
  • Mixed cryoglobulinaemia vasculitis
  • Lymphoma

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