Hepatitis C | Causes, Symptoms, Stages, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention

Conclusion

Hepatitis C is a viral hepatitis condition caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The sickness comes in acute and chronic forms (lasting more than six months). HCV is a blood-borne pathogen that is transferred by blood transfusions, sharing hypodermic needles, sharing personal items (razors, etc.), having unprotected sex. Healthcare professionals can also acquire it by mishandling used syringes.

The acute form of hepatitis generally goes on its own and doesn’t have any symptoms. However, there is a chance of it converting into a chronic type. Chronic hepatitis C presents itself with hepatic and extrahepatic symptoms, including fever, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, pale/grey stools, dark-colored urine, and psychiatric disturbances.

It is diagnosed using anti-HCV blood tests that check for the presence of a virus in the body. The main aim of hepatitis C treatment is to achieve a sustained virologic response. Direct-acting antiviral therapy includes a combination of different drugs, including ribavirin, sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, etc. Currently, there are no vaccines available for hepatitis C.

References

    1. Hofmeister, Megan G., et al. “Estimating prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in the United States, 2013‐2016.” Hepatology 69.3 (2019): 1020-1031.
    2. Chen, Stephen L., and Timothy R. Morgan. “The natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.” International journal of medical sciences2 (2006): 47.
    3. Levrero, M. “Viral hepatitis and liver cancer: the case of hepatitis C.” Oncogene27 (2006): 3834-3847.
    4. Syriopoulou, Vassiliki, et al. “Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus: rate of infection and risk factors.” Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases5 (2005): 350-353.
    5. Owusu, Michael, et al. “Aetiology of viral hepatitis among jaundiced patients presenting to a tertiary hospital in Ghana.” PloS one9 (2018): e0203699.
    6. Hsieh, Tsung-Ying, et al. “Acute viral hepatitis C-induced jaundice in pregnancy.” Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology2 (2006): 180-182.
    7. Tillmann, Hans L., et al. “A polymorphism near IL28B is associated with spontaneous clearance of acute hepatitis C virus and jaundice.” Gastroenterology5 (2010): 1586-1592.
    8. Poynard, T., et al. “Fatigue in patients with chronic hepatitis C.” Journal of viral hepatitis 9.4 (2002): 295-303.
    9. Kallman, Jillian, et al. “Fatigue and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.” Digestive diseases and sciences 52.10 (2007): 2531-2539.
    10. Glacken, Michèle, et al. “The experience of fatigue for people living with hepatitis C.” Journal of clinical nursing 12.2 (2003): 244-252.
    11. Catania, Vito Emanuele, et al. “Hepatitis C virus infection increases fatigue in health care workers.” Diseases4 (2020): 37.
    12. Barkhuizen, André, et al. “Musculoskeletal pain and fatigue are associated with chronic hepatitis C: a report of 239 hepatology clinic patients.” The American journal of gastroenterology5 (1999): 1355-1360.
    13. Nemni, R., et al. “Peripheral neuropathy in hepatitis C virus infection with and without cryoglobulinaemia.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry9 (2003): 1267-1271.
    14. Santoro, Lucio, et al. “Prevalence and characteristics of peripheral neuropathy in hepatitis C virus population.” Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry5 (2006): 626-629.
    15. Evon, Donna M., et al. “A comprehensive assessment of patient reported symptom burden, medical comorbidities, and functional well being in patients initiating direct acting antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C: Results from a large US multi-center observational study.” PloS one8 (2018): e0196908.
    16. Moretti, Rita, et al. “Hepatitis C-related cryoglobulinemic neuropathy: potential role of oxcarbazepine for pain control.” BMC gastroenterology1 (2018): 1-6.
    17. Musialik, Joanna, et al. “Taste and appetite disorders of chronic hepatitis C patients.” European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology12 (2012): 1400-1405.
    18. Chunt, Munkhtsetseg, et al. “Risk Factors Associated with Acute Hepatitis C in Mongolia.” Infection Control & Hospital EpidemiologyS1 (2020): s375-s375.
    19. Lee, Young Ho, et al. “Cryoglobulinaemia and rheumatic manifestations in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.” Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases12 (1998): 728-731.
    20. Lang, Carolyn A., et al. “Symptom prevalence and clustering of symptoms in people living with chronic hepatitis C infection.” Journal of pain and symptom management4 (2006): 335-344.
    21. Riley III, Thomas R., et al. “Is nausea associated with chronic hepatitis C infection?.” The American journal of gastroenterology12 (2001): 3356-3360.
    22. Keeley, Paul W. “Nausea and vomiting.” Medicine12 (2015): 709-711.
    23. Yeoh, Sern Wei, et al. “Depression, fatigue and neurocognitive deficits in chronic hepatitis C.” Hepatology international4 (2018): 294-304.
    24. Dirks, Meike, et al. “Neuropsychiatric symptoms in hepatitis C patients resemble those of patients with autoimmune liver disease but are different from those in hepatitis B patients.” Journal of viral hepatitis4 (2019): 422-431.
    25. Evon, Donna M., et al. “Patient-reported symptoms during and after direct-acting antiviral therapies for chronic hepatitis C: the PROP UP study.” Journal of hepatology3 (2019): 486-497.
    26. Sarrazin, Christoph, et al. “Antiviral strategies in hepatitis C virus infection.” Journal of hepatology 56 (2012): S88-S100.
    27. Aghemo, Alessio, and Raffaele De Francesco. “New horizons in hepatitis C antiviral therapy with direct‐acting antivirals.” Hepatology 58.1 (2013): 428-438.
    28. Carrat, Fabrice, et al. “Clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C after direct-acting antiviral treatment: a prospective cohort study.” The Lancet 393.10179 (2019): 1453-1464.
    29. Murray, Karen F., et al. “Safety and Efficacy of Ledipasvir–Sofosbuvir With or Without Ribavirin for Chronic Hepatitis C in Children Ages 6‐11.” Hepatology 68.6 (2018): 2158-2166.
    30. Gupta, Neil, et al. “Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in Rwanda with ledipasvir–sofosbuvir (SHARED): a single-arm trial.” The lancet Gastroenterology & hepatology 4.2 (2019): 119-126.
    31. Asselah, Tarik, et al. “Efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for 8 or 12 weeks in patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 2, 4, 5, or 6 infection without cirrhosis.” Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 16.3 (2018): 417-426.
    32. Wyles, David, et al. “Glecaprevir/pibrentasvir for hepatitis C virus genotype 3 patients with cirrhosis and/or prior treatment experience: a partially randomized phase 3 clinical trial.” Hepatology 67.2 (2018): 514-523.