hepatitis virus-associated rheumatic disease

Hepatitis virus-associated rheumatic disease refers to chronic active hepatitis caused by hepatitis viruses, also known as chronic progressive hepatitis. It is a systemic inflammatory disease primarily involving liver damage, mediated by immune mechanisms. Its characteristics are: ① typical histological changes of liver disease; ② in addition to liver lesions, features of multi-system damage; ③ multiple immunological abnormalities. Among the currently known six types of hepatitis virus infections - A, B, C, D, E, and G - the first five types can all be accompanied by chronic extrahepatic organ and tissue damage, but hepatitis B (HBV) is the most prominent, followed by hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis D (HDV), hepatitis A (HAV), and hepatitis E (HEV) in descending order. Hepatitis G virus has not yet been successfully isolated in China, and no cases have been reported. Saint et al. (1953) first discovered a progressive inflammatory disease with a poor prognosis, presenting with infectious hepatitis as an early manifestation, and named it chronic active hepatitis. Joske (1955) emphasized that the progressive development of viral hepatitis is related to the lupus erythematosus cell phenomenon, thus proposing that this chronic progressive liver disease should be named "lupoid hepatitis." However, it is now fully established that this liver disease is distinctly different from systemic lupus erythematosus liver disease. Saint et al. (1953) first discovered a progressive inflammatory disease with a poor prognosis, presenting with infectious hepatitis as an early manifestation, and named it chronic active hepatitis. Joske (1955) emphasized that the progressive development of viral hepatitis is related to the lupus erythematosus cell phenomenon, thus proposing that this chronic progressive liver disease should be named "lupoid hepatitis." However, it is now fully established that this liver disease is distinctly different from systemic lupus erythematosus liver disease.