Hepatitis C infection: a review.

Hepatitis C, transmitted through body fluid exchange, affects approximately 1.8% of the U.S. population, roughly 3.9 million persons. Transfusion of blood and blood products was once an important source of hepatitis C transmission. Since the initiation of the hepatitis C screening program in 1985, however, injection drug use has become a major route. Hepatitis C is a leading cause of chronic liver disease. In 80% to 85% of those infected with the virus, chronic hepatitis C eventually develops, which can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, with alcohol abuse and coinfection with hepatitis B as additional risk factors. Screening for hepatitis C can be achieved with serologic assays. Molecular assays are helpful in confirming the diagnosis, assessing viral load, and characterizing the genetic nature of the viruses. Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and a combination of IFN-alpha 2B and ribavirin are therapies available in treatment of hepatitis C, but sustained response to the treatment has been unsatisfactory. Further studies are indicated to obtain more effective therapies for eradication of the disease. Hepatitis C is preventable, and clinicians should use every opportunity possible in their practice to assess those at risk and actively engage them in risk factor reductions.