Hepatitis C

Medical Author: Suresha Rajaguru, MD and Mary Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP
Medical Editor: Jay W. Marks, MD

• What is hepatitis C?
• How does liver damage occur in hepatitis C infection?
• How is hepatitis C virus spread and how can transmission be prevented?
• What are the symptoms of hepatitis C infection?
• What conditions outside the liver are associated with hepatitis C?
• What is the usual progression of chronic infection with hepatitis C virus?
• Who is at high risk and should be tested for hepatitis C infection?
• What are the diagnostic tests for hepatitis C virus and how are they used to diagnose hepatitis C virus infection?
• What is the role of a liver biopsy in the management of chronic hepatitis C?
• Who should receive antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus?
• What are the goals of therapy for hepatitis C virus?
• What are the therapy options for previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C?
• How are relapses and nonresponders treated?
• Should individuals with acute hepatitis C be treated?
• What are the side effects of treatment for hepatitis C virus?
• What about liver transplantation for hepatitis C?
• What is the current research and what is in the future for hepatitis C?
• Hepatitis C At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Hepatitis C - How Was Diagnosis Established

Featured hepatitis C patient discussions on effective treatments "I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2000. I was in stage 2 then. I tried the interferon and ribavirin. It didn't work, so in 2007, after being diagnosed in stage 4, I tried the Copegus. That didn't work either. So now I just try to take care of myself. I also just got over anal/rectal cancer. Now it is the quality of life I look forward to, knowing there is nothing out there to help me. I can certainly tell you everything there is to know about hepatitis C though! Milk thistle is good; it certainly can't hurt you. I also use Liver Aid. You can buy it at your local drug store. I am 57 and hanging in there!" "I was diagnosed with hepatitis C years ago when I gave blood. I was told that I had been exposed to hepatitis C by the presence of antibodies, but I might never even progress to chronic hepatitis. About a year ago, I started getting sores on my legs. My regular doctor said he thought it was a reaction to methadone pills I take for chronic neck pain. All along, I was told it might be related to the hepatitis C somehow, even though all the hepatitis tests they did showed no sign of hepatitis C. Now, all of a sudden, I’m told I have major liver damage and cirrhosis and I can’t be treated because of it." "I was diagnosed with hepatitis C in September of 2008. I went in for a routine physical. I asked for the blood test, as my family has a history of diabetes/heart problems. My doctor performed a biopsy at the end of December and determined I was at the end of stage 0/beginning of stage 1. I just had blood work done this month. My AST is 45 and ALT is 78. Everything else is within limits. My wife and I are searching, debating, and researching when/how my course of treatment should go. So as of now, treatment is on hold." Read All Comments on Hepatitis C » Top Searched Hepatitis C Terms: transmission, treatment, causes, cure, cirrhosis, from a kiss, virus, symptoms, vaccine, contagious Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is difficult for the human immune system to eliminate the virus from the body, and infection with HCV usually becomes chronic. Over decades, chronic infection with HCV damages the liver and can cause liver failure in some people. In the U.S., the number of new cases of infection with HCV has declined over the last 10 years from a peak of some 200,000 annually to about 19,000 in 2006. When the virus first enters the body, there usually are no symptoms, so these numbers are estimates. Up to 85% of newly infected people fail to clear the virus and become chronically infected. In the U.S., more than three million people are chronically infected with HCV. Infection is most common among people who are 40 to 60 years of age, reflecting the high rates of infection in the 1970s and 1980s. There are 8,000 to 10,000 deaths each year in the U.S. related to HCV. HCV is the leading cause of liver transplantation in the U.S and is a risk factor for liver cancer.

What is the nature (biology) of the hepatitis C virus?

'Hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver. HCV is one of several viruses that can cause hepatitis. It is unrelated to the other common hepatitis viruses (for example, hepatitis A or hepatitis B). HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family of viruses. Other members of this family of viruses include those that cause yellow fever and dengue.

Viruses belonging to this family all have ribonucleic acid (RNA) as their genetic material. All hepatitis C viruses are made up of an outer coat (envelope) and contain enzymes and proteins that allow the virus to reproduce within the cells of the body, in particular, the cells of the liver. Although this basic structure is common to all hepatitis C viruses, there are at least six distinctly different strains of the virus which have different genetic profiles (genotypes). In the U. S., genotype 1 is the most common form of HCV. Even within a single genotype there may be some variations (genotype 1a and 1b, for example). Genotyping is important to guide treatment because some viral genotypes respond better to therapy than others. The genetic diversity of HCV is one reason that it has been difficult to develop an effective vaccine since the vaccine must generate viral proteins from each genotype.

Hepatitis C - How Was Diagnosis Established

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

What was or has been the treatment for your hepatitis C, and was it effective?

Comment submissions for this question have ended.
See 20 Viewer Comments

View Comments

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• interferon - Describes the medication interferon (Roferon-A, Intron-A, Rebetron, Alferon-N, Peg-Intron, Avonex, Betaseron, Infergen, Actimmune, Pegasys), a drug used in managing many diseases that involve the immune system.
• Liver Blood Tests - Learn about liver blood tests used to detect liver damage disease such as fatty liver, cirrhosis, hepatitis, Tylenol liver damage, and more. This includes measuring the aminotransferases enzymes (AST and ALT levels)
• Diabetes - Learn about type 1 and 2 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) symptoms including increased urination, thirst, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin infections, and blurred vision. Causes and diagnosis information is provided in the information.

Read more Hepatitis C related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Truckers Trailed By Risky Behaviors: Study
• For Hispanics, a Unique Cancer Profile Emerges
• Genetic Discovery May Improve Hepatitis C Treatment
• Scientists Decode HIV Genome