Oligoarthritis in an HCV patient
– In addition to all other causes of arthritis, HCV related arthropathy should be on the differential diagnosis of any patient with chronic inflammatory arthritis and especially in patients with known HCV infection
– Two distinct groups have been described in HCV related arthropathy ; RA-like arthritis (bilateral, symmetric, small joints) and Oligoarthritis (often associated with cryoglubulinemia esp Type II).
– Important to distinguish above as treatment of this condition is definite treatment of the HCV with interferon α and ribavirin