Rheumatological manifestations of chronic viral hepatitis

T. Joda, Abbas

	Rheumatological manifestations of chronic viral hepatitis
Mustansiriya Medical Journal
Article 1, Volume 11, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 1-6
Author
Abbas T. Joda
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate and assess the rate of rheumatological manifestations in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Patients and Methods: Sixty four patients with chronic viral hepatitis were included in this cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of viral hepatitis is established by clinical & laboratory study. Full history was taken from all patients with special concentration on rheumatological manifestations and complete clinical examination was done for all of them, blood test including liver function tests, viral serology, viral load, and renal function. Results: All together, sixty four patients were recruited and studied, fifty (32males and 18 females) of them (78.1%) had shown rheumatological manifestations. Thirty one of patients were reported with HCV infection & 19 patients with HBV infection. The rate of chronic fatigue was reported in 24 patients (48%). Myalgia was presents in 21patients (42%) which was more in patients with HCV. Arthralgia was present in 19 patients (38%). Sicca syndrome was presented in 12 patients (24%). Schirmer's test was positive in 2 patients (4%). Skin rash occur in 6 patients (11.1%). It's nonspecific purpuric rash, Arthritis was reported in 3 patients (6%), all of them with HCV infection. Also there were 16 patients (32%) of all patients on treatment with interferon-alpha or antivirus measure or both. Conclusions: Chronic viral hepatitis infection patients shows various rheumatological manifestations in more than 75% of cases so it is suggested to investigate patients with unexplained rheumatological manifestations who are at risk for viral hepatitis for these viral infections
Keywords
Viral Hepatitis; Chronic liver disease; Rheumatological manifestation

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