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Hepatitis C



Digestive system
Digestive system
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C
Digestive system organs
Digestive system organs


Hepatitis C

Alternative Names:

Non-A or non-B hepatitis
Symptoms:

Many people who are infected with the hepatitis C do not have symptoms. Hepatitis C is often detected during blood tests for a routine physical or other medical procedure. If the infection has been present for many years, the liver may be permanently scarred -- a condition called cirrhosis. In many cases, there may be no symptoms of the disease until cirrhosis has developed.

The following symptoms could occur:


Signs and tests:
  • Hepatitis virus serology
  • ELISA assay to detect hepatitis C antibody
  • Hepatitis C PCR test
  • Elevated liver enzymes
  • Liver biopsy shows chronic inflammation
  • Hepatitis C genotype. Six genotypes are present around the world. Most Americans have genotype 1 infection, which has lower response rates to treatment.



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