Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2008 , Vol 54 , Num 4

A Case of Hepatitis C Virus Related Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis

Ömer Karataş 1 ,Demirhan Dıraçoğlu 2 ,Ahmet Ekmekçi 3 ,Özgür Mete 4 ,Cihan Aksoy 2
1 İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul
2 İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
3 İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul
4 İstanbul Üniversitesi İstanbul Tıp Fakültesi, Patoloji Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul

HCV is a universally common and serious health problem. Vasculitis is a group of illnesses characterized by inflammatory alteration of the blood vessel wall and development of necrosis and granuloma in some circumstances. In this article, vasculitis of cryoglobulinemia which appeared in a patient with chronic HCV, followed by degenerative joint disorder, was discussed. Patients with HCV vasculitis of cryoglobulinemia may present at a physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic with joint complaints only. Joint-pain patients with ulcerating skin lesions should be questioned and monitored regarding HCV. In the presence of skin ulcers, physical therapy must be carried out carefully, and treatments must be planned for vasculitis. 

Keywords : HCV, cryoglobulinemia, vasculitis