Hepatitis C and Arteritis

[Echoes]

I developed optic perineuritis two years ago,lost most of the vision in my right eye until I was started on 70 mg. of Prednisone. Headaches persisted, an MRA showed inflammation of the right dura, cavernous sinus, optic nerve. I had low-dose radiation treatments to the optic nerve after one year. Headaches persisted until about a month ago, at which time I developed some pain on the left side of my neck.  CT showed thickening of the common carotid artery, not typical for atherosclerosis.  I'm a cardiac and vascular sonographer, so we did a carotid ultrasound, and in September my common carotid/bulb intimal thickening was .64.  In October, my left External had progressed to being 99%occluded, and the internal walls are thickening now (as well as the subclavian artery walls).  The artery was perfectly clear in June when I was teaching ultrasound and being scanned by students.  Radiation oncologist said  these arteries were not in the field of radiation. Physician thinks it is a type of arteritis; temporal artery biopsies were negative.  Sed rate is elevated on Prednisone.  I had almost 40 blood transfusions in the 1960's.  A couple of years ago, my hepatitic C titer was positive(first one I've had).  Internist ordered an RNA test, which was negative.  He told me not to worry about the Hep C.  Do you think that this is a type of arteritis caused by exposure to Hep C, even though it is not present in the RNA?  I'm seeing a Rheumatologist, but we have never discussed this.  I'm not even sure if I told him about the Hep C, because I was told it was gone and I didn't have to worry

[cuteus]

that is one complicated concern you have there. I am not sure if you are aware that this is a patient to parient forum with no physician moderating the questions.
It is hard for anyone to guess what conditions are directly related to the virus, to the immune system's response to the infection or to something else, even doctors can't tell yet. You can do a web search of extrahepatic manifestations of hep c, and see if your condition is mentioned in hte literature at all. GL to you

[Echoes]

Thank you - you are correct...I thought a physician was moderating the questions.  Thanks for the info