1E51.1

Chronic hepatitis C

Hepatite C crônica

Definition

A liver disease characterised by liver inflammation and fibrosis caused by more than 6 months of infection with the hepatitis C virus. Even at stage of cirrhosis there may be no symptoms. Otherwise, clinical features include fatigue and impaired quality of life, hard liver edge and complications of cirrhosis (muscle wasting, ascites, splenomegaly/portal hypertension). Chronic hepatitis C increases the risks of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, which contribute to increased all-cause mortality. Transmission is by blood and body fluid contamination, rarely by sexual transmission and from mother to baby at the time of birth (vertical transmission). Confirmation of the diagnosis is by detection of HCV RNA in the presence of a positive anti-HCV in serum.

Exclusions

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Index Terms

Chronic hepatitis Cchronic type C viral hepatitischronic HCV - [hepatitis C virus] infectionhepatitis C NOShepatitis C infection NOShepatitis C-related cirrhosistype C viral hepatitishep C NOSChronic hepatitis C virus infectionChronic hepatitis C, with cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, with cirrhosis, with complications of cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, with cirrhosis, without complications of cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, without cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virusChronic hepatitis C, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, with cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, with cirrhosis, with complications of cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, with cirrhosis, without complications of cirrhosisChronic hepatitis C, co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus, without cirrhosis

View on WHO New search