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Chronic hepatitis C is defined as infection with the hepatitis C virus persisting for more than six months based on the presence of its RNA. [18] Chronic infections are typically asymptomatic during the first few decades, [ 18 ] and thus are most commonly discovered following the investigation of elevated liver enzyme levels or during a routine ...
Chronic hepatitis C progresses towards cirrhosis, with estimates of cirrhosis prevalence of 16% at 20 years after infection. [126] While the major causes of mortality in hepatitis C is end stage liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma is an important additional long term complication and cause of death in chronic hepatitis.
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.
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccination. Effective treatments for hepatitis C are available but costly. [6] In 2013, about 1.5 million people died from viral hepatitis, most commonly due to hepatitis B and C. [6] East Asia, in particular Mongolia, is the region most affected. [6]
Life Line Screening is a privately run prevention and wellness company founded in 1993, with corporate headquarters in Austin, Texas and operational offices in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. The company operates community-based health screening services for adults aged 50 and up across the United States.
In those with chronic hepatitis C infection, treatment of the hepatitis C using medications reduces the risk of developing HCC. [6] In the case of patients with cirrhosis, alcohol consumption is to be avoided. Also, screening for hemochromatosis may be beneficial for some patients. [55]
Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis or hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure or chronic hepatic failure and end-stage liver disease, is an acute condition of the liver in which the normal functioning tissue, or parenchyma, is replaced with scar tissue and regenerative nodules as a result of chronic liver disease.
Autoimmune hepatitis, formerly known as lupoid hepatitis, plasma cell hepatitis, or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, is a chronic, autoimmune disease of the liver that occurs when the body's immune system attacks liver cells, causing the liver to be inflamed.