ABSTRACT
To study the incidence of rheumatologic disorders in chronic hepatitis C infection. Fifty patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C [Positive HCV antibody and PCR] of more than six months duration were included in the study. Another group of twenty-five patients with rheumatic manifestations free of HCV served as a control group. They were identical in gender and age. Among the HCV patients group cryoglobulinaemia was detected in 29 cases [58%], antinuclear antibodies in 1 0 cases [20%] rheumatoid factor in 19 cases [38%], hypocomplementaemia in 20 cases [40%], myalgia in 24 cases [48%], arthralgia in 26 cases [52%] arthritis in 18 cases [36%] enthesitis in 39 cases [78%], fatigability in 46 cases [92%], Raynaud's Phenomenon in 14 cases [28%], xerophthaimia in 1 0 cases [20%], rash in 29 cases [58%], carpal tunnel syndrome in 6 cases [1 2%] and R A in 6 cases [1 2%]. HCV may play a role in the pathogenosis of these auto immune phenomena. This hypothesis is mainly based on the lymphotropism of HCV that can be responsible for a chronic activation of both T and B lymphocytes, leading to complex immune system disorders. But more studies are required to define the extent of this role