A Summary of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
Hepatitis C is a stealthy virus that mutates while hiding in
liver cells and other organ cells like the spleen and gall
bladder. The fact that the viral cells "hide" makes it very
difficult for the body's immune system to eradicate it.
Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease sometimes taking
many years until symptoms are noticeable. It is at this point
that the virus has reached advanced chronic stage and becomes
difficult to eradicate. Hepatitis C results in 8,000 to 10,000
deaths annually. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of liver
transplants in the U.S.
Hepatitis C infection is caused by blood contact with someone
who has the virus infection himself. The transmission of the
virus can occur by illicit drug use with needles, sharing
toothbrushes or razors with an infected person, by sexual means,
by unsanitary tattooing or by exposure to blood at your
workplace (like a hospital or blood bank). Some HCV infection
may have been caused by receiving blood from a transfusion prior
to 1992.
Hepatitis C is diagnosed via a blood test. Usually, the first
thing that is noticed is that the liver enzyme levels for ALT
and AST are elevated well above normal levels. Further
investigation via HCV-RNA testing identifies whether the
Hepatitis C virus is in your blood or not. Other tests for HCV
include qualitative viral load tests, which measure the RNA
particles in your blood. If you are being treated for HCV, your
doctor is probably using either a HCV-RNA or viral load test to
determine the effectiveness of the treatment.
The symptoms of Hepatitis C infection often do not occur in a
person until 20 years after he/she had been infected. Since the
HCV infects the liver and the liver is the organ in the body
that makes all the energy for our daily activities possible,
liver function deterioration often results in fatigue. Fatigue
is the primary complaint or symptom of HCV infection. Other more
severe symptoms are jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), bile
retention (which can cause jaundice), portal vein hypertension,
skin rashes and itching, and autoimmune problems resulting from
your body's immune system attacking normal cells.
Long term HCV infection may result in fibrosis or even cirrhosis
of the liver. Fibrosis results from unchecked liver
inflammation. As the HCV infection progresses, the damage to the
liver results in scarring or hardening of the liver cells
(fibrosis). Long term fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis which is
when the scarring from fibrosis overtakes the normal liver cell
structure causing deformity and loss of function in the liver.
About 15%-20% of HCV patients end up with cirrhosis. A liver
biopsy is currently the most accurate means of determining the
amount of inflammation and fibrosis the liver has sustained.
Hepatitis C progression in the body can take several years or
even decades to come to chronic stage or to a stage where severe
liver damage is evident. This period of time allows a person to
determine how to properly treat the disease and to decide on a
course of disease management. Currently, the main treatment for
HCV infection to eradicate the virus is combo alpha-interferon
and Ribavirin. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe interferon
alone. Interferon comes in standard form or in pegylated form.
Standard form interferon is administered 3 times per week, while
the pegylated form is administered only once per week. Your body
makes its own interferon, which is a protein that fights viral
infection and viral replication.
Hepatitis C may often be managed by taking herbal and vitamin
supplements that help your body fight infection and limit
inflammation. These supplements help your liver with the
inflammation and give it the nutrients it needs to regenerate
healthy new cells. Your doctor can recommend alternative or
adjunct solutions you may want to try.
Proper treatment of the disease, a healthy and active lifestyle,
a good diet, abstinence from alcohol and stress management are
important factors in controlling Hepatitis C progression.