A Cutaneous Marker of Hepatitis C Virus

Abstract

Question: A 53-year-old woman with hepatitis C (HCV) cirrhosis was admitted to our inpatient service with several days of progressive bilateral lower extremity pruritus, accompanied by severe pain and parasthesias. She had experienced intermittent pruritus for 2 years, but symptoms had become more severe in the 4 days before admission. Her pain was stabbing in nature and without radiation. Her pruritus has been refractory to multiple therapies including hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, sertraline, cholestyramine, rifampin, naltrexone, topical steroids, and narrow band ultraviolet-B light therapy.