most of the signs and symptoms of hcv relate to the liver. less commonly hcv causes conditions outside of the liver. an example is when the body produces unusual antibodies called "cryoglobulins. " these cryoglobulins cause inflammation of the arteries (vasculitis) which may damage the skin joints and kidneys. patients with cryoglobulinemia may have joint pain arthritis a raised purple rash on the legs generalized pain or swelling. in addition these patients may develop raynaud's phenomenon in which the fingers and toes turn color (white then purple then red) and become painful at cold temperatures. two skin conditions lichen planus and porphyria cutanea tarda have been associated with chronic infection with hcv. for reasons that are unclear diabetes is three times more common among patients with chronic hcv infection than in the general population. low platelet counts may occur as a result of antibody-mediated platelet destruction. hcv also is associated with b-cell lymphoma a cancer of the lymph system.
what conditions outside the liver are associated with hepatitis c?