Background. Hepatitis C is a global major health problem with extremely variable extrahepatic manifestations. Mixed cryoglobulinaemia\n(MC) shows a striking association with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and it is sometimes asymptomatic. The\nskin is a frequently involved target organ in MC. Objective. To investigate the prevalence of cryoglobulinaemia in a sample of\nEgyptian patients with cutaneous manifestations of chronic HCV infection and to correlate its presence with clinical criteria\nand liver function tests. Methods. One hundred and eighteen patients with skin manifestations of chronic compensated hepatitis\nC were included. Venous blood was tested for liver function tests and serum cryoglobulins. Results. Twelve patients (10.169%)\nwere positive for serum cryoglobulins (2 with pruritus, 4 with vasculitic lesions, 3 with livedo reticularis, one with oral lichen,\none with chronic urticaria, and another with Schamberg�s disease). Vasculitic lesions and livedo reticularis of the legs showed\nhigher prevalence in cryoglobulin-positive than in cryoglobulin-negative patients. Presence of serum cryoglobulins did not relate\nto patients� demographic or laboratory findings. Conclusions. Fortunately, MC is not markedly prevalent among Egyptians with\ncutaneous lesions of chronic hepatitis C, and cryopositivity was commonly, but not exclusively, detected with cutaneous vasculitis\nand livedo reticularis. Laboratory testing for cryoglobulins in every HCV patient is advisable for earlier MC detection and\nmanagement.
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