Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a number of extrahepatic disorders. The most studied conditions associated with HCV are type II mixed cryoglobulinemia and B cell lymphoma. However, many reports suggest that HCV might also be associated with a number of autoimmune disorders, both organ-specific and not organ-specific. Although concomitant treatment of HCV infection is a confounding factor when ascertaining the actual role of HCV in inducing autoimmune disease, a considerable amount of experimental data indicates that HCV is able to subvert the immune system and consequently induce autoimmunity. In the present review, we report a series of observations which associate chronic HCV infection with the onset of autoimmune disorders. © 2012 Paroli et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.
Hepatitis C virus infection and autoimmune diseases / Paroli, Marino; Iannucci, Gino; Accapezzato, Daniele. - In: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GENERAL MEDICINE. - ISSN 1178-7074. - ELETTRONICO. - 5:(2012), pp. 903-907. [10.2147/ijgm.s37580]
Hepatitis C virus infection and autoimmune diseases
PAROLI, Marino;IANNUCCI, Gino;ACCAPEZZATO, DANIELE
2012
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a number of extrahepatic disorders. The most studied conditions associated with HCV are type II mixed cryoglobulinemia and B cell lymphoma. However, many reports suggest that HCV might also be associated with a number of autoimmune disorders, both organ-specific and not organ-specific. Although concomitant treatment of HCV infection is a confounding factor when ascertaining the actual role of HCV in inducing autoimmune disease, a considerable amount of experimental data indicates that HCV is able to subvert the immune system and consequently induce autoimmunity. In the present review, we report a series of observations which associate chronic HCV infection with the onset of autoimmune disorders. © 2012 Paroli et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.