Open AccessThe natural course of chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Iwarson Sten
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fems microbiology reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.91
H-Index - 212
eISSN - 1574-6976
pISSN - 0168-6445
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6976.1994.tb00089.x
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , chronic infection , immunology , chronic liver disease , hepatitis c virus , antibody , virology , transmission (telecommunications) , biology , virus , chronic hepatitis , interferon , polymerase chain reaction , sexual transmission , viral disease , medicine , cirrhosis , immune system , gene , biochemistry , electrical engineering , engineering , microbicide , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
In 1988, investigators from the Chiron Company (USA) detected the non‐A, non‐B agent and named it hepatitis C virus (HCV). An anti‐HCV antibody assay (ELISA) and subsequently confirmation tests (immunoblot and polymerase chain reaction) were developed. HCV exposure results in a chronic infection in a majority of cases. This chronic infection is associated with slowly progressive chronic liver disease. Chronic HCV infection is, like HBV, also associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Most HCV carriers are infected by parenteral routes. Intravenous drug users have the highest risk of becoming infected. Intrafamiliar spread is seen in certain parts of the world but sexual and perinatal transmission does not play an important role in spreading the infection. Antiviral therapy (alpha‐interferon) in patients with chronic hepatitis C will normalize liver function tests in about 25% of the cases.