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Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) that primarily affects the liver; [2] it is a type of viral hepatitis. [6] During the initial infection period, people often have mild or no symptoms. [1] Early symptoms can include fever, dark urine, abdominal pain, and yellow tinged skin. [1]
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) [3] is a small (55–65 nm in size), enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. The hepatitis C virus is the cause of hepatitis C and some cancers such as liver cancer ( hepatocellular carcinoma , abbreviated HCC) and lymphomas in humans.
HCV genome. Nonstructural protein 3 (NS3), also known as p-70, is a viral nonstructural protein that is 70 kDa cleavage product of the hepatitis C virus polyprotein. It acts as a serine protease. [1] [2] C-terminal two-thirds of the protein also acts as helicase and nucleoside triphosphatase. [3]
In acute viral hepatitis, the GGT levels can peak at 2nd and 3rd week of illness, and remained elevated at 6 weeks of illness. GGT is also elevated in 30% of the hepatitis C patients. GGT can increase by 10 times in alcoholism. GGT can increase by 2 to 3 times in 50% of the patients with non-alcoholic liver disease.
FibroTest, known as FibroSure in the US, is a biomarker test that uses the results of six blood serum tests to generate a score that is correlated with the degree of liver damage in people with a variety of liver diseases. FibroTest has the same prognostic value as a liver biopsy.
The test results correspond to stages F0-F4 and grades A0-A3 of the METAVIR scoring system. [20] In 2007 FibroTest was validated by French Health Authorities as a first-line diagnosis of liver injury before biopsy. It was recommended to be a better predictor than biopsy staging for hepatitis C complications and death. [21]
The treatment for the HCV genotype also depends on the presence or absence of cirrhosis. [11] There are six major genotypes of hepatitis C virus which includes many subtypes. [12] The genotype can affect treatment of HCV infections. [3] Recent studies show that HCV genotypes consist of 8 genotypes and 67 subtypes.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause acute and chronic infections that are a major cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. [citation needed] HCC is a major cause of death in patients with chronic HCV infection. Regarding the pathogenesis of HCC associated with HCV, that virus may play direct or indirect roles.