Hepatitis C

Disease description

Hepatitis C is an inflammatory liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus. Progressing over the years, the disease causes irreversible damage to liver cells and leads to severe complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (cancer).

There are two forms of the disease:

● acute: lasts up to six months
● chronic: the disease persists for many years

According to statistical data from the World Health Organization, up to 85% of acute hepatitis C cases progress to the chronic form.

Symptoms that indicate the need for diagnosis and treatment

During the first six months, the disease may not present any symptoms. Initial signs of liver damage can be mild and nonspecific:

• emotional instability and irritability
• nausea and decreased appetite
• discomfort and heaviness in the right upper quadrant
• joint pain
• yellowing of the eyes and skin
• “dark beer” colored urine and acholic (unpigmented, pale) stool
• weight loss

Diagnosis and treatment methods

Diagnosis

Hepatologists and gastroenterologists in leading clinics follow an established protocol for effective diagnosis of hepatitis C:

• blood tests (complete blood count, biochemistry, PCR, ELISA, alpha-fetoprotein — an inflammation tumor marker)
• liver ultrasound (to assess the size and structure of the organ)
• esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): signs of hepatitis C include esophageal varices
• FibroScan (elastometry): to assess the degree of liver fibrosis (scarring)

Treatment

The cornerstone of hepatitis C treatment is antiviral therapy. Modern direct-acting antiviral drugs, prescribed in leading medical centers worldwide, cure hepatitis C in 95% of cases.

Comprehensive treatment includes hepatoprotectors to protect liver cells and intravenous infusions to alleviate toxic damage.

Innovations in global clinics

To treat the most common type of hepatitis C (genotype 1), the world’s top gastroenterology clinics use interferon-free DAA therapy, which enhances the action of T-cells in fighting the virus and supports the immune system.