|
Only about 15% of patients who get infected with the hepatitis C virus clear the virus spontaneously without any long-term health consequences. This is called an acute infection. Unfortunately, in the majority of people, the disease becomes chronic. (A disease is considered "chronic" if it lasts longer than 6 months.) Chronic hepatitis C is one of the most serious forms of hepatitis and poses a risk of long-term medical complications, especially if it goes untreated.
People with chronic hepatitis C are at increased risk of end-stage liver disease and liver cancer. A small proportion of people with chronic hepatitis will develop liver damage that is serious enough to require liver transplantation. In fact, liver disease related to chronic hepatitis C is the leading reason for liver transplantation today. About one third of liver cancer cases in the US are a result of chronic hepatitis C infection. The incidence of hepatitis C-related liver cancer is continuing to increase in the US and throughout the world because of the many people who have been infected for years.
Although chronic hepatitis C may not produce symptoms, the damage to the liver often continues and gets worse with time. When the liver is damaged (for example, by the hepatitis C virus), it tries to repair itself and forms small scars. This scar formation is called fibrosis. A greater amount of fibrosis indicates more severe and more advanced disease. Eventually, the liver may become cirrhotic (full of scars). The structure of the liver cells begins to break down, and the liver can no longer function normally. The liver damage caused by chronic hepatitis C usually occurs gradually over a period of 20 years, but some factors can make the disease progress much more quickly, including alcohol use, male gender, age, and HIV infection.
Because hepatitis C infection can damage the liver without any symptoms, it is important to get diagnosed early and discuss treatment options with your doctor. Studies have shown that patients who get treated before significant liver damage has occurred are more likely to respond to treatment than patients who are diagnosed and treated later in the disease course.
| Related Articles |
 |
|
|
