Hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemia presenting with pericardial effusion

Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Apr;92(4):710-2.

Abstract

A 54-yr-old man underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus and associated with cryoglobulinemia and proteinuria. Four months after transplantation, the patient was reinfected with hepatitis C virus and cryoglobulinemia recurred, accompanied by increasing proteinuria, ascites, and pleural and pericardial effusion. Serum cryoglobulins and pleural and pericardial effusion disappeared rapidly following treatment with ribavirin, whereas proteinuria remain unchanged. We believe that pericardial effusion is an unusual presentation of hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cryoglobulinemia / diagnosis
  • Cryoglobulinemia / etiology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / surgery
  • Humans
  • Liver Transplantation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pericardial Effusion / diagnosis
  • Pericardial Effusion / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Proteinuria / diagnosis
  • Proteinuria / etiology
  • Recurrence