Incidence, risk factors, and severity of clinical manifestations of skin vasculitis in patients with hcv- and HCV/HIV-infection

Introduction. Several viruses including hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can induce vasculitis. Aim. We aimed to study the incidence, risk factors, and severity of skin vasculitis in patients with HCV and HCV/HIV coinfection.Patients and Methods. The study group included 331 patients (254 patients with HCV and 77 patients with HCV/HIV coinfection) referred to a specialized hepatology center for antiviral therapy of HCV infection.Results. Skin vasculitis was found in 21% (95% CI: 17-25%) of cases, n = 69/331. Skin vasculitis was observed in in 20% of patients infected with HCV (95% CI: 15-25%) and in 25% of HIV/HCV co-infected patients (95% CI; 16-35%), χ2 = 0,892, р = 0,345. Most patients with vasculitis infected with HCV had cryoglobulinemia (94%, n = 47/50), meanwhile, in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, cryoglobulinemia was found in 63% cases (n = 12/19), χ2 = 10.568, р = 0.001. Multiple regression analysis showed that skin vasculitis was related with cryoglobulinemia (OR = 6,928, 95% CI: 3.245-14.790, р function show_eabstract() { $('#eabstract1').hide(); $('#eabstract2').show(); $('#eabstract_expand').hide(); }