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Hepatitis C: Pathophysiology & Treatment Masterclass

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Participants 396

  • Allison Clemens
  • April
  • ababaabhay
  • achoi2392
  • adhoward1
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Lesson 1 of 4
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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