Cutaneous manifestations in patients of hepatitis C

Background Hepatitis C is a major public health problem, infecting 170 million people worldwide. It is associated with a number of extrahepatic manifestations, many of which are cutaneous.Objective The purpose of the study was to determine the nature and frequency of dermatological manifestations in hepatitis C virus (HCV) positive patients. Patients and methods 371 HCV positive patients from the outpatient and inpatient departments of Jinnah hospital, Lahore were enrolled and evaluated for cutaneous manifestations. All the relevant data regarding history, clinical examination and investigations were recorded and analyzed. Results Among all 371 cases cutaneous manifestations were present among 54%. Pruritus was the most common dermatological feature seen in 15.90% followed by palmar erythema 11.59% and lichen planus 7.82%. Less common features were hyperpigmentation, cutaneous vasculitis, photosensitivity and urticaria. Pruritus, Schamberg’s disease and photosentivity were significantly more common in patients with antiviral therapy