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  Hepatitis C
virus (HCV) is a RNA virus with a low replication activity. In the
infected subjects it entails low serum and liver levels of both
virus-related antigens and genomic copies. The virus is mainly spread by
the parenteral route. It can be also spread by the perinatal and sexual
routes, but not very efficiently.
The risk of infection following one single exposure is between 3 and 10%.
The incubation period, extremely variable, is between 2 and 30 weeks and
is generally asymptomatic: however, serum transaminases usually rise up
to 2-3 times the normal value.
Once the infection has been contracted, the clinical course of hepatitis
C is extremely variable. More than 50% of patients with acute
post-transfusional hepatitis will develop a chronic form and 25% of
patients with chronic hepatitis will develop cirrhosis.
Some patients with chronic hepatitis have a progressive disease with the
development of cirrhosis and hepatic failure. Other subjects, on the
contrary, evolve very slowly with very few clinical signs.
Hepatitis C cirrhosis has a benign course, with a long interval before
any complication arises, if compared to alcoholic cirrhosis.
However, patients with chronic HCV infection and cirrhosis can develop
hepatocellular carcinoma.
For additional information
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