Hepatitis C

Computer modeling reveals how surprisingly potent hepatitis C drug works

A study by researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and a multinational team reveals how daclatasvir, a direct-acting antiviral agent in development for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV), targets one of its ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Feb 18, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Chinese clinic suspected of infecting 95 patients

(AP)—Chinese state media say 95 people have been hospitalized after a private clinic gave them injections suspected to be contaminated with hepatitis C.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Feb 05, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Chronic hepatitis C: Interferon may be harmful in re-treatment

People with hepatitis C and chronic liver disease who relapsed or failed to respond to initial treatment are unlikely to improve on interferon retreatment. In fact, they may face an increased risk of dying sooner, and are ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 30, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Personalized plans to address barriers to HIV drug adherence boost chances of successful therapy

HIV patients who participated in an intervention that helped them identify barriers to taking their drugs properly and develop customized coping strategies took a significantly greater amount of their prescribed doses than ...

HIV & AIDS created Jan 29, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Predicting survival among those aging with HIV infection

(Medical Xpress)—A new collaborative study led by Yale, the VA Healthcare System, and the North American Cohort Collaboration supports the accuracy of an index used for predicting mortality as patients ...

HIV & AIDS created Jan 29, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

2nd NY hospital warns of potential pen infection

(AP)—A second western New York hospital is notifying patients that they may have been exposed to HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C through the improper sharing of insulin pens.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 24, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Binge drinking can dramatically amplify damage to the liver

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is characterized by a fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. Binge drinking is on the rise worldwide, and is particularly common in the U.S. A review of studies addressing the effects ...

Addiction created Jan 22, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Generic HIV treatment strategy could save nearly $1 billion annually but may be less effective

Replacing the combination of brand-name, antiretroviral drugs currently recommended for control of HIV infection with soon-to-be-available generic medications could save the U.S. health care system almost $1 billion a year ...

HIV & AIDS created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Feds warned against risk seen in Buffalo VA

(AP)—Authorities are asking why a Buffalo veterans hospital may have reused insulin pens on many patients, causing an HIV scare, despite federal advice to the contrary.

Health created Jan 14, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Blood disorder cases tied to prescription painkiller abuse

(HealthDay)—Tennessee health officials report cases of a rare blood-clotting problem among people who injected the painkiller Opana ER (extended release) after crushing pills meant to be taken by mouth.

Medications created Jan 10, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Team discovers new gene that affects clearance of hepatitis C virus

(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have discovered a gene that interferes with the clearance of hepatitis C virus infection. They also identified an inherited variant within this gene, Interferon Lambda 4 (IFNL4), that predicts ...

Genetics created Jan 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Targeting hepatitis C treatment: The importance of interleukin (IL)-28

A metanalysis published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Medicine has confirmed that polymorphisms (SNP) in the gene coding for interleukin-28 (IL28B) influence natural hepatitis C viral (HCV) ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 07, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Interferon-free therapies for hep C virus look promising

(HealthDay)—For untreated patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV), treatment with an oral nucleotide inhibitor of HCV polymerase, sofosbuvir, plus ribavirin seems effective for genotypes 1, 2, and 3; and ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Jan 03, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Sustained virological response linked with improved survival for patients with chronic HCV infection

Among patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and advanced hepatic fibrosis (development of excess fibrous connective tissue), sustained virological response (SVR) to interferon-based treatment was associated with ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Dec 25, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Hep C cases linked to NH hospital worker rise

(AP)—Five more people have been diagnosed with the same strain of hepatitis C a former traveling hospital worker is accused of spreading through tainted needles. The total is now 44 in four states.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Dec 21, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will go on to develop liver failure, liver cancer or life-threatening esophageal and gastric varices.

HCV is spread primarily by blood-to-blood contact associated with intravenous drug use, poorly sterilized medical equipment and transfusions. An estimated 130–170 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C. The existence of hepatitis C (originally "non-A non-B hepatitis") was postulated in the 1970s and proven in 1989. It is not known to cause disease in other animals.

The virus persists in the liver in about 85% of those infected. This persistent infection can be treated with medication; peginterferon and ribavirin are the current standard therapy. Overall, between 50–80% of people treated are cured. Those who develop cirrhosis or liver cancer may require a liver transplant. Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplantation though the virus usually recurs after transplantation. No vaccine against hepatitis C is currently available.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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