Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C is a known cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer in Hong Kong. The commonest source of infection is from contaminated blood and blood products. People who have transfusion of blood products before 1990 and intravenous drug abusers are at highest risk. Most patients are asymptomatic. Some patients may have elevated liver enzymes. The disease can progress silently with increasing liver fibrosis and eventually develop into liver cirrhosis. Progression of disease will be faster with alcohol consumption. Liver cancer tends to develop in patients with advanced liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. Some patients may have involvement of other organs including kidneys, joints, and skin.

The commonest genotypes of hepatitis C virus in Hong Kong are 1 and 6. Treatment by 8-12 weeks of antiviral therapy can eliminate the virus from the liver in almost all patients. The choice and duration of antiviral therapy may be affected by viral genotype and presence of liver cirrhosis. The aim of managing chronic hepatitis C is to clear the virus and prevent the development of liver-related complications.