RESUMO
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the clinical and biological extrahepatic manifestations among 250 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Exclusion criteria were positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen, human immunodeficient virus or heavy alcohol intake. The prevalence of dermatologic, rheumatologic, neurologic, nephrologic, endocrine manifestations, autoantibodies and cryoglobulins were assessed. Clinical extrahepatic manifestations were observed in 108 patients; pruritis was the commonest clinical extrahepatic manifestation, followed by arthralgia, myalgia, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, porphyria cutaneous tarda and hypothyroidism. Other manifestations were <2%. The biological extrahepatic manifestations were observed in 99 patients. Thrombocytopenia was the commonest one, followed by rheumatoid factor, antismooth muscle antibody [ASMA], ANF [with titer >1/40, 3.2% each], cryoglobulinemia, elevated creatinine, proteinuria >1 g/day [2.4% each]. Other biological manifestations were less than 2.4% each. The prevalence of autoimmune manifestations in this series was relatively lower than that reported in other parts of Europe. This may indicate the importance of geographic and/or genetic influence in autoimmune liver disease