Lesson 1 of 4
In Progress
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
- Affects >1.9 million people living in the United States
- Transmitted through contaminated blood, sexual contact, perinatal exposure
- Sharing needles, blood transfusion, organ transplant
- Acute: first 6 months after virus exposure
- 50-90% develop chronic infection
- Complications: cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- Leading indication for liver transplant
Pathophysiology
- Single-stranded RNA virus
- Hepatocytes = major site of viral replication
Genotype
- High mutational rate leading to genetic variation
- Mixed-genotype indicates coinfection with more than one HCV virus
- Geographic variations exist & genotype 3 is most severe
Genotype | Prevalence in US (%) |
1a | 46 |
1b | 26 |
2 | 11 |
3 | 9 |
4 | <8 |
5 | <8 |
6 | <8 |
Clinical Presentation
- Primarily asymptomatic
- Advanced hepatic fibrosis: fatigue, vague abdominal pain, depression