Dermatological diseases associated with Hepatitis B virus infection

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a critical public health issue worldwide. The prompt recognition of skin diseases associated with HBV enables the earlier diagnosis of undetected HBV infection. This review article aims to provide a guide for physicians to increase awareness of possible HBV infec...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jui-Wen Yeh, Hsing-San Yang, Chao-Chun Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
Series:Dermatologica Sinica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.dermsinica.org/article.asp?issn=1027-8117;year=2020;volume=38;issue=3;spage=142;epage=150;aulast=Yeh
Description
Summary:Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a critical public health issue worldwide. The prompt recognition of skin diseases associated with HBV enables the earlier diagnosis of undetected HBV infection. This review article aims to provide a guide for physicians to increase awareness of possible HBV infection when encountering skin diseases. The frequencies of HBV infection were highest in telangiectasia macularis multiplex acquisita, followed by mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), and Gianotti-Crosti syndrome (GCS). Serology tests for HBV are recommended for patients with the above diseases. Lichen planus is not associated with HBV according to the most recent evidence. Chronic urticaria and porphyria cutanea tarda are associated with HBV infection although the detection rate of HBV was only 2% in these two diseases. The mechanism behind the associations between HBV and these skin disorders remains unknown and virus-associated immune-mediated processes or direct injury caused by viral replication are frequently proposed. The clinical manifestation was not discrepant between the HBV-associated skin disorder and the non-HBV-associated counterpart. The duration of HBV infection did not show any statistically significant correlations with the development of skin disorders. Antiviral medication yielded improvement in HBV-associated PAN, MC and GCS.
ISSN:1027-8117
2223-330X