Hepatitis C Overview

Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, which is the largest gland in the body. The liver performs many important functions, such as producing bile and blood proteins; metabolizing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins; and removing toxins. Hepatitis inflammation of the liver interferes with these normal liver functions.

Acute hepatitis lasts from 1 to 6 months. Some people recover and clear the virus from their bodies without lasting problems. Other people develop chronic (long-term) hepatitis, which is a progressive condition that may eventually result in:

• cirrhosis (liver fibrosis or scarring of the liver)
• liver failure
• liver cancer (rare)

Hepatitis may be caused by:

• infections (bacteria, fungi, or parasites)
• toxins (alcohol, drugs, or poisons)
• an autoimmune reaction (the immune system attacks the liver)

The most common infectious cause of hepatitis is a virus. The three most common forms of viral hepatitis are:

• hepatitis A is spread by contaminated food and water.
• hepatitis B is spread by contaminated blood or blood derivatives.
• hepatitis C is spread by contaminated blood or blood derivatives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anyone who ever had any type of viral hepatitis since age 11 is not eligible to donate blood. In addition, anyone who ever tested positive for hepatitis B or hepatitis C, at any age, is not eligible to donate, even if they were never sick or jaundiced from the infection.

Hepatitis C

When it was first identified in 1988, hepatitis C was referred to as non-A, non-B hepatitis. Since then, hepatitis C has become the most common chronic blood-borne viral infection in the United States. Approximately:

• 4.1 million Americans have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• 3.2 million Americans are chronically infected.
• 10,000 to 12,000 Americans die annually from hepatitis C.

The hepatitis C virus is an RNA-containing virus, which means its genetic information is stored in RNA (ribonucleic acid), not DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Some people infected with HCV clear the virus completely from their systems without treatment. They are free of the infection and cannot infect other people. Unfortunately, these people are in the minority. Of the people who become infected with HCV, approximately:

• 55% to 85% might develop a long-term infection.
• 70% might develop chronic liver disease.
• 5% to 20% might develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years.
• 1% to 5% might die from the consequences of long-term infection (either from cirrhosis or liver cancer).