Güngör E, Cirit A, Alli N, Karakayali G, Gür G, Artüz F
Dermatology and Venereology Department, Ankara Numune Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Dermatology. 1999;198(1):26-8. doi: 10.1159/000018059.
Several dermatologic manifestations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been described. The association of HCV infection, essential mixed cryoglobulinemia and leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LV) have been published mainly in case reports.
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of HCV infection and cryoglobulinemia in patients with LV.
Twenty-five cases of LV were tested for anti-HCV antibodies by means of a third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and cryoglobulins were detected by the precipitation method. Thirty healthy volunteers served as control group.
Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in 2/25 patients with LV (8%) and none of the control group. Cryoglobulinemia was detected in 1 patient with LV and none in the control group.
Although no significant difference between patients and the control group was detected, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in LV patients is as high as 8%. Considering this, it seems reasonable to investigate the presence of HCV in unexplained cases of LV.
