Prevalence of Skin diseases among Hepatitis C virus infected patients and their association with HCV infection in Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C is a serious disease caused by infection of HCV virus. This virus mainly infects hepatocytes but it also replicates in the other tissues of human body, causing different types of extrahepatic manifestations.Methods: We conducted a case-control study from March 2014 to June 2014, to investigate frequency of skin diseases among 75 HCV infected patients and 75 controls identified in NOORI hospital, Islamabad Pakistan. We also investigated the association of skin diseases with HCV infection. Case patients were confirmed symptomatic cases of hepatitis C infection with laboratory and clinical criteria meeting standards provided by CDC. Controls were selected as the people without HCV, HBV, HIV and other chronic diseases. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data and skin diseases was collected using structured performa. Chi square test was used to see association.Results: The prevalence of skin diseases in cases were 33.3% (25/75). Most common skin diseases among HCV patients was Pruritus (32%) followed by Psoriasis (12%). Case-patients were more likely than controls to have skin diseases (OR=4.85, CI 1.95-12.12).Conclusion: Our study indicates high prevalence of skin diseases in HCV infected patients. It also showed clear association of skin diseases with HCV infection. We recommend studies on large scale to have a better look on these skin complications and use of these Skin diseases as prognostic indication of HCV infection.