Hepatitis C virus

Question 1

3 major complications of hepatitis C infection

Answer 1

• chronic hepatitis
• cirrhosis
• hepatocellular carcinoma

Question 2

Genome of hepatitis C

Answer 2

• positive
• singled stranded
• RNA

Question 3

Hepatitis C enveloped?

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

Replication of hepatitis C virus

Answer 4

1. receptor binding and endocytosis
2. fusion and uncaring in cytoplasm
3. translating and polyprotein processing in cytoplasm
4. RNA replication
5. virion assembly
6. transport and release

Question 5

Clinical presentation of hepatitis C

Answer 5

• acute infection mostly asymptomatic

- persistent infection for more than 6 months

Question 6

Acute symptoms of hepatitis C

Answer 6

• jaundice
• fatigue, myalgia, low grade fever
• right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting

Question 7

Pathogenesis of hepatitis C

Answer 7

• tissue damage due to immune response i.e. liver inflammation
• parenchymal cell degeneration
• necrosis of hepatocytes
• accumulation of macrophages

Question 8

Normal immune response for hepatitis C

Answer 8

HCV RNA : peaks 0-12wks after exposure

ALT : peaks 8-16wks after exposure

Question 9

Sources of hepatitis C

Answer 9

injecting drugs, sexual, transfusion, unknown

Question 10

Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C

Answer 10

• possible in utero

- no risk through breastfeeding

Question 11

Sexual partner transmission of hepatitis C

Answer 11

-transmission can occur, lower frequency than HIV,HBV

Question 12

Accidental transmission of hepatitis C

Answer 12

• needle stick

- 6x higher transmission compared to HIV

Question 13

Control for hepatitis C

Answer 13

• interferon/Ribavirin
• pegylated interferon alpha/Ribavirin
• boceprevir or telaprevir(protease inhibitors)