Review
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World J Hepatol. Oct 27, 2013; 5(10): 528-540
Published online Oct 27, 2013. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v5.i10.528
Chronic HCV infection and inflammation: Clinical impact on hepatic and extra-hepatic manifestations
Rosa Zampino, Aldo Marrone, Luciano Restivo, Barbara Guerrera, Ausilia Sellitto, Luca Rinaldi, Ciro Romano, Luigi E Adinolfi
Rosa Zampino, Aldo Marrone, Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Second University of Naples Polyclinic Hospital, 80100 Naples, Italy
Luciano Restivo, Barbara Guerrera, Ausilia Sellitto, Luca Rinaldi, Luigi E Adinolfi, Division of Internal Medicine, Second University of Naples, Clinical Hospital of Marcianise, Caserta Local Health Unit, 81100 Marcianise, Italy
Ciro Romano, Division of Internal Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Second University of Naples Polyclinic Hospital, 80100 Naples, Italy
Author contributions: Zampino R contributed to conception, drafting of the article and literature review; Marrone A contributed to drafting of the article and literature review; Restivo L, Guerrera B, Sellitto A, Rinaldi L and Romano C reviewed the literature and approved the final version of this article; Adinolfi LE contributed to conception, drafted the article, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final version of this article.
Supported by A grant from Regione Campania
Correspondence to: Luigi E Adinolfi, MD, Professor, Head of Internal Medicine, Second University of Naples, Clinical Hospital of Marcianise, Caserta Local Health Unit, Corso Umberto I, 179, 81100 Marcianise, Italy. luigielio.adinolfi@unina2.it
Telephone: +39-82-3690642 Fax: +39-82-3690642
Received: June 26, 2013
Revised: September 5, 2013
Accepted: September 13, 2013
Published online: October 27, 2013
Processing time: 121 Days and 2 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes liver inflammation by complex and not yet well-understood molecular pathways. HCV-induced inflammation has a significant clinical impact on development of both hepatic disease and HCV-associated extrahepatic manifestations. Knowledge of the complex mechanisms underlying HCV-related inflammation and development of disease as well as individuation of relevant markers of inflammation could be of importance for understanding disease progression, predicting prognosis and, possibly, conceiving new therapeutic approaches targeting the different steps of the inflammatory response.