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Review
. 2021 Nov 27;11(12):1569.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci11121569.

Hepatitis C Virus-Related Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders

Rita Moretti  1 , Mauro Giuffrè  1 , Nicola Merli  2 , Paola Caruso  1 , Stefano Di Bella  1 , Claudio Tiribelli  3 , Lory Saveria Crocè  1
Affiliations
Review

Hepatitis C Virus-Related Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders

Rita Moretti et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), despite being a hepatotropic virus, is the causative agent of many systemic disorders, such as vasculitis, autoimmune diseases, lymphoproliferative disorders, and a broad spectrum of neurological and psychiatric manifestations. Although symptoms have been misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed, only recently, evidence of direct (inflammatory) or indirect (immune-mediated) HCV-dependent cerebral effects has been established. HCV infection can promote acute inflammatory response, pro-coagulative status and ischemic disorders, and neurodegeneration. These effects rely on cerebral HCV replication, possibly mediated by blood-brain barrier alterations. Further study is needed to better understand the HCV-related mechanisms of brain damage.

Keywords: HCV; cryoglobulinemia; hepatitis C; nervous system; stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mind-the-graph: Pivotal correlations between hepatitis C virus and the nervous system.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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