The prevalence of dermatologic manifestations related to chronic hepatitis C virus infection in a study from a single center in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection may be associated with many dermatologic manifestations. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatologic manifestations related to chronic HCV infection in Turkey.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70 patients with chronic HCV infection and 70 healthy volunteers were investigated. They were carefully questioned and skin, mucosa, hair and nails were systematically examined. Laboratory tests for the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, bilirubine and rheumatoid factor were done in all of them.

RESULTS: The only symptom which was more frequent in patients with chronic HCV infection was generalized pruritus (13 cases, 18.57%). It was observed in three cases of the control group (4.28%), the difference being statistically significant (p:0.01). In the group of patients with chronic HCV infection, three patients were diagnosed as leukocytoclastic vasculitis and three as lichen planus (4.28%). Neither leukocytoclastic vasculitis nor lichen planus was observed in the control group.

CONCLUSION: In our patients, an association between HCV infection and pruritus was found. The patients with unexplained pruritus should be investigated for HCV infection. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis and lichen planus were not observed frequently enough to reach statistical significance (p:0.24).