Viral hepatitis C

Abstract

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. According to World Health Organization data, 3% of the world population (approximately 170 million people) is infected with HCV; in Poland there are over 700,000. Over 70% of those infected manifest no symptoms in the acute phase of the disease, and in about 70-80% the acute phase progresses into a chronic form. Patients with symptoms in the acute phase of HCV infection most commonly present with unspecific signs and symptoms that may develop in other viral liver infections, e.g. malaise, fatigue, abdominal pain, mild hepato- and splenomegaly and arthralgia. These symptoms usually persist for 2 to 12 weeks. In the chronic phase a subset of patients complain of malaise, nausea, abdominal pain and itching. With time, chronic hepatitis C may develop into liver cirrhosis. The basic diagnostic methods in HCV infection involve determination of anti-HCV antibodies using the ELISA immunoassay and examination of HCV-RNA with the RT-PCR method. The current treatment of HCV infection involves administration of pegylated interferon a and ribavirin over a period of 48 weeks in HCV-1 genotype infection, and 24 weeks for HCV-2 and 3 genotypes. Effectiveness of therapy depends on the HCV genotype. HCV elimination can be achieved in 78% of patients with HCV-2 and 3 genotypes, and in 55% of patients with HCV-1 genotype.