Hep C

Question 1

is there a vaccine for Hep C ?

Answer 1

NO vaccine for Hep C

Question 2

transmission of Hep C

Answer 2

From blood :

intravenous drug users

patients who received a blood transfusion prior to 1991
Vertical transmission

Question 3

is breast feeding contraindicated in hep C

Answer 3

No

Question 4

Clinical features of Hep C ?

Answer 4

fatigue
arthralgia
jaundice

Question 5

investigations for Hep C

Answer 5

HCV RNA : acute infection

eventually develop anti-HCV antibodies and will continue to have anti-HCV antibodies

Question 6

outcome of hep c ?

Answer 6

less than half clear the virus , the other half will cary on to develop chronic hep C

Question 7

how to diagnose chronic Hep c ?

Answer 7

persistence of HCV RNA in the blood for 6 months.

Question 8

what are the complications for chronic hep C ?

Answer 8

haematological problems: arthralgia, arthritis

eye problems: Sjogren’s syndrome

CIRRHOSIS (5-20% of those with chronic disease)

hepatocellular cancer

cryoglobulinaemia: typically type II (mixed monoclonal and polyclonal)

PORPHYRIA CUTANEA TARDA (PCT): especially if there are other factors such as alcohol abuse - painful, blistering skin lesions that develop on sun-exposed skin
hypertrichosis
hyperpigmentation

membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

Question 9

management of hep c ?

Answer 9

depends on the viral genotype - this should be tested prior to treatment

combination of protease inhibitors (e.g. daclatasvir + sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir + simeprevir) with or without ribavirin are used

Question 10

aim of hep c treatment ?

Answer 10

defined as undetectable serum HCV RNA six months after the end of therapy