Follows 50-70% of cases of transfusion-associated and sporadic hepatitis C. Clinically mild, often waxing and waning aminotransferase elevations; mild chronic hepatitis on liver biopsy. Extrahepatic manifestations include cryoglobulinemia, porphyria cutanea tarda, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and lymphocytic sialadenitis. Diagnosis confirmed by detecting anti-HCV in serum. May lead to cirrhosis in ≥20% of cases after 20 years.
Treatment: Chronic Hepatitis C Therapy for chronic HCV is currently stratified based on HCV genotype and the presence of treatment naïve or treatment experienced disease in addition to pt-specific factors (see Tables 153-3 and Table 153-4). Therapeutic options for chronic HCV have evolved rapidly such that current recommendations as established by leading expert panels should be reviewed prior to deciding on the most appropriate treatment regimen. |