Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Rheumatic Diseases: The Impact of Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with liver and extrahepatic complications, including B-cell lymphoma, cardiovascular and kidney diseases, glucose metabolism impairment and rheumatic conditions ie, arthralgia, myalgia, cryoglobulinemia vasculitis, sicca syndrome and the production of autoantibodies. The treatment has long been based on interferon alpha (IFN) that was found poorly effective, and contraindicated in many autoimmune/inflammatory disorders because of possible exacerbation of rheumatic disorders. The recent emergence of new oral IFN-free combinations offers an opportunity for HCV infected patients with autoimmune/inflammatory disorders to be cured with a short treatment duration and low risk of side effects.