Hepatitis C (cont.)
Medical Author:
Suresha Rajaguru, MD
Medical Author:
Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP
Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACPMary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University. Medical Editor:
Jay W. Marks, MD
Jay W. Marks, MDJay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. In this Article
 What is the usual progression of chronic hepatitis C infection?Our understanding of the natural progression (history) of HCV infection still is evolving. Of 100 people infected with HCV, it is estimated that 75 to 85 will become chronically infected, 60 to 70 will develop liver disease, 5 to 20 will develop cirrhosis and 1 to 5 will die from complications of liver disease such as cirrhosis or liver cancer. Scientists are learning more about what causes some people to have milder problems and others to have serious complications. Drinking alcohol and acquiring other hepatitis viruses are risk factors for severe disease. Thus, persons who have chronic hepatitis C infection should avoid drinking and should be vaccinated against the other hepatitis viruses (A and B). Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) is associated with cirrhosis due to chronic HCV infection. Some experts recommend screening patients with HCV infection and cirrhosis for liver cancer every six months with abdominal ultrasound examinations and a blood test for alpha-fetoprotein (a marker for liver cancer). The effectiveness of this screening is unclear. Who is at high risk and should be tested for hepatitis C infection?Currently, screening for HCV is not recommended as part of a routine physical examination. Rather, testing should be done among:
These are not the only circumstances under which testing for HCV infection may be done. In general, testing is recommended when exposure to the virus is suspected. Reviewed by Jay W. Marks, MD on 1/2/2013 Patient CommentsViewers share their comments
Hepatitis C - Symptoms
Question: What symptoms did you experience with hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C - Treatment
Question: What was or has been the treatment for your hepatitis C, and was it effective?
Hepatitis C - Treatment Side Effects Experience
Question: Did you experience any side effects from your hepatitis C treatment, and if so, what were they?
Hepatitis C - Diagnosis
Question: What kinds of tests did you have to diagnose your hepatitis C?
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