[Multiple extrahepatic manifestations in a patient with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alfa]

The case of a 61-years-old female patient with chronic hepatitis C who developed multiple consecutive extrahepatic manifestations is reported. One of these manifestations (lichen planus) appeared before HCV-related chronic hepatitis was diagnosed and treated with interferon-alpha, suggesting that it was likely associated with HCV itself. Other manifestations appeared during IFN-alpha treatment (polyarthritis) or after the end of treatment (ulcerative cholitis, sarcoidosis) implying a role for either HCV or IFN-alpha treatment in the pathogenesis of extrahepatic manifestations.