Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Clinical Overview and Management
Overview
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a bloodborne RNA virus that causes liver inflammation, ranging from an acute, self-limited illness to chronic hepatitis leading to serious liver damage including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is a major global health issue with an estimated 50 million people chronically infected worldwide.
Transmission and Pathogenesis
- HCV is primarily transmitted through contact with infected blood, commonly via unsafe injections, transfusions, and shared needles among people who inject drugs. Sexual transmission and perinatal transmission also occur but are less common.
- The virus infects hepatocytes, leading to immune-mediated liver injury. A high proportion of acute infections progress to chronic infection without early treatment.
Clinical Presentation
- Acute HCV infection is usually asymptomatic or mild; symptoms, when present, include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, dark urine, jaundice, and joint pain.
- Chronic HCV often remains silent for decades before manifesting symptoms of advanced liver disease such as fatigue, abdominal swelling, easy bruising, jaundice, and confusion due to hepatic encephalopathy.
- Extrahepatic manifestations include cryoglobulinemia, lymphoma, diabetes, and renal diseases.
Diagnosis
- Serology for anti-HCV antibodies and nucleic acid testing (HCV RNA) are the main diagnostic tools.
- Liver function tests, viral load quantification, and genotyping guide treatment decisions.
- Imaging and biopsy assess liver fibrosis and disease stage.
Treatment
- Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized HCV therapy, achieving over 95% cure rates with short, well-tolerated regimens.
- Early treatment prevents progression to cirrhosis and hepatic cancer and reduces viral transmission.
Summary
HCV is a potentially curable chronic liver infection that requires early diagnosis and treatment to prevent life-threatening liver disease. Advances in antiviral therapy have made lasting viral eradication achievable with minimal side effects.
Consult with Our Team of Experts Now!
For comprehensive HCV screening, diagnosis, and modern antiviral treatment, consult infectious disease specialists and hepatologists.
- World Health Organization. Hepatitis C. Fact Sheet. 2025 Jul 24.
- Pawlotsky JM. Hepatitis C Virus: Epidemiological Challenges and Global Elimination. J Hepatol. 2025 Jul;83(1):16-27. doi:10.1016/j.jhep.2025.04.001.
