Hepatitis C Virus Flashcards
State the clinical features of hepatitis C (acute)
Usually subclinical or mild but can present with malaise, anorexia and fatigue.
Chronic infection of hepatitis C
Develops in most
State the most reliable indicator of liver inflammation in HCV
Raised ALT
State the clinical features of chronic hepatitis C
Often asymptomatic
state the most common ways in which hepatitis C is transmitted
IVDU, haemophiliacs who have recieved non-heat-treated concentrated
List the known routes of transmission of hepatitis C
Shared works associated with IDU Blood products prior to heat treatment Blood transfusion proir to antibody screening Tattooing etc Sexual transmission Mother-to-child Household contacts Medical or dental treatment if inadequately decontaminated equipment used
HCV is what kind of virus
RNA virus of the flavivirus family
How is HCV diagnosed
HCV antigen, HCV-RNA, sequencing, IgG
State the percentage of patients who get chronic hepatitis C virus
60-80%
State the prevention methods of hepatitis C
None
Why is abstention advised in patients with HCV
Accelerates disease
State the treatment of HCV
Combination of pegylated alpha interferon and ribavirin and drugs that inhibit HCV protease enzyme
What is a non-responder
Despite antiviral therapy, virus remains detectable
What is viral breakthrough
Initial response to antiviral therapy followed by increase in the measure circulating level of virus by a factor of 10 or 1log
What is a relapser
Virus undetectable during antiviral therapy but become detectable on stopping treatment
