Several case reports deal with the relationship between hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and pulmonary or he- patic sarcoidosis. Most publications describe interferon m-induced sarcoidosis. However, HCV infection p...Several case reports deal with the relationship between hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and pulmonary or he- patic sarcoidosis. Most publications describe interferon m-induced sarcoidosis. However, HCV infection per se is also suggested to cause sarcoqdosis. The present case report describes a case of biopsy-verified lung and liver sarcoidosis and HCV infection, and the out- come of antiviral therapy. In March 2009, a 25-year-old man presented with moderately elevated liver enzymes without any clinical symptoms. The patient was posi- tive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA of genotype lb. Four months later the patient became dyspnoic and pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed by lung biopsy and radiography. A short course of corticosteroid treat- ment relieved symptoms. Three months later, liver biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas consisting of epithelioid histiocytes and giant cells with a small amount of peripheral lymphocyte infiltration, without any signs of fibrosis. Chronic HCV infection with co- existence of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis was diagnosed. Antiviral therapy with peginterferon ~ and ribavirin at standard doses was started, which lasted 48 wk, and sustained viral response was achieved. A second liver biopsy showed disappearance of granulo- mas and chest radiography revealed normalization of mediastinal and perihilar glands. The hypothesis that HCV infection perse may have triggered systemic sar- coidosis was proposed. Successful treatment of HCV infection led to continuous remission of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis. Further studies are required to un- derstand the relationship between systemic sarcoidosis and HCV infection.展开更多
基金Supported by A grant from the Estonian Science Foundation,No.7650a grant from the University of Tartu,No. SF0180081s07
文摘Several case reports deal with the relationship between hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection and pulmonary or he- patic sarcoidosis. Most publications describe interferon m-induced sarcoidosis. However, HCV infection per se is also suggested to cause sarcoqdosis. The present case report describes a case of biopsy-verified lung and liver sarcoidosis and HCV infection, and the out- come of antiviral therapy. In March 2009, a 25-year-old man presented with moderately elevated liver enzymes without any clinical symptoms. The patient was posi- tive for HCV antibodies and HCV RNA of genotype lb. Four months later the patient became dyspnoic and pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed by lung biopsy and radiography. A short course of corticosteroid treat- ment relieved symptoms. Three months later, liver biopsy showed noncaseating granulomas consisting of epithelioid histiocytes and giant cells with a small amount of peripheral lymphocyte infiltration, without any signs of fibrosis. Chronic HCV infection with co- existence of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis was diagnosed. Antiviral therapy with peginterferon ~ and ribavirin at standard doses was started, which lasted 48 wk, and sustained viral response was achieved. A second liver biopsy showed disappearance of granulo- mas and chest radiography revealed normalization of mediastinal and perihilar glands. The hypothesis that HCV infection perse may have triggered systemic sar- coidosis was proposed. Successful treatment of HCV infection led to continuous remission of pulmonary and hepatic sarcoidosis. Further studies are required to un- derstand the relationship between systemic sarcoidosis and HCV infection.
