Hepatitis C
This form of the virus is very difficult to clear from the body and 85% of people with acute hepatitis C progress to its chronic form. Hepatitis C does its damage slowly with the person usually unaware of any symptoms.
Between 28,000 and 35,000 cases of acute hepatitis C are reported each year. It has been estimated that only 25% to 30% are diagnosed because the majority of people are asymptomatic (have no symptoms). Only 20% of people with chronic hepatitis C experience symptoms of the disease but they may well experience extraghepatic (outside of the liver) signs and symptoms of infection in other organs. These types of infection include skin diseases, vascalitis (inflammation of the blood vessles), porhyria cutaenea tarda (a person finds they bruise easily), blood related abnormalities, endocrine disorders, eye disorders such as corneal ulcers, muscle weakness and joint pains.
Fulminant hepatitis C
Fulminant hepatitis C is very rare but has a high mortality rate. 85% of people with Fulminant hepatitis C die before they can receive a liver transplant.
Genotypes and Hepatitis C
The genes that make up the HCV vary. The genotypes have been numbered 1 to 6. (Some researchers believe there may be more (genotypes 7 to 11). Each genotype can differ by as much as 35%, these sub-types are classified alphabetically, a, b and c.
Different genotypes seem to predominate in different parts of the world. Type 1a and 1b are common in America whereas genotype 3a seems to predominate amongst drug users in Europe. The different types are important as they respond differently to the current treatments that are available. Studies indicate that Type 1, especially type 1b, does not respond well in the long term to treatment with Interferon. Some investigators have shown that people with type 1b tend to develop more severe problems and their disease is more aggressive, cirrhosis and liver cancer occurring in greater numbers. Other researchers believe there is insufficient data to reach such conclusions.
Article Sources:
Palmer, Mellisa. Hepatitis Liver Disease. What you need to know. New York: Avery Publishing Group, 2000.
CDC Center for Disease Control,
WHO World Health Organization
