Hepatitis

Question 1

What type of virus is Hep C?

Answer 1

Single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus of the flavivirus family. It contains a 9000 kilo base pairs (kbp) single open reading frame

Question 2

Which receptors are used by Hep C to infiltrate cells?

Answer 2

CD81 and LDL

Question 3

What are the most common genotypes of Hep C in England?

Answer 3

90% = 1 or 3

Question 4

What is the incubation period of Hep C

Answer 4

Up to 12 weeks

Question 5

What proportion with acute Hep C will go on to develop chronic infection?

Answer 5

80%

Question 6

What are the extrahepatic manifestations of Hep C?

Answer 6

Non-specific antibodies
Essential mixed cryoglobulinemia
Glomerulonephritis
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis
Mooren's corneal ulcer
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Autoimmune thyroiditis
Diabetes mellitus
Sjögren's syndrome

Question 7

What proportion of Hep C patients go on to develop ESLD?

Answer 7

20-30% in the 20-30 years following infection, with progression being faster with increasing age

Question 8

Liver disease stage refers to what?

Answer 8

The amount of liver fibrosis

Question 9

Liver disease grade refers to what?

Answer 9

The amount of liver inflammation

Question 10

Why is Hep C curable?

Answer 10

It is an RNA virus that DOES NOT integrate into the host genome

Question 11

What factors accelerate fibrosis progression in Hep C?

Answer 11

Age at infection (older>younger)
Male sex
HIV associated immune suppression
Alcohol use