Hepatitis C virus outside the liver

• DOI: 10.1007/s11901-003-0005-2
• Publication Date: 2007-06-03T06:52:12Z
• Authors: Rena K. Fox
• Keywords: Porphyria cutanea tarda; Liver disease; Hepatitis C; Viral Hepatitis

Observational and some experimental data suggest that hepatitis C virus can manifest in a variety of disease processes outside the liver. The links between hepatitis C virus and membranoproliferative glomerulonephropathy, porphyria cutanea tarda, lichen planus, cryoglobulinemia, diabetes mellitus, B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and thyroiditis are critically reviewed. Based on the available evidence, recommendations for the clinical approach to patients with extrahepatic diseases are discussed.