Hepatitis C

Worldwide, 170 million people are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV is the most prevalent bloodborne infection in the United States with an estimated 3.2 million to 3.5 million people chronically infected, and it is the most common cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer in the United States. Although the natural history of chronic HCV infection varies greatly, it is estimated that 60% to 80% of people infected with HCV will develop chronic hepatitis. A majority will eventually develop symptoms or signs of liver damage after an average of 13 years. One third of these people will develop cirrhosis of the liver after an average of 20 years, and 20% to 40% of those who develop cirrhosis will develop liver ...