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Natural History of HCV-induced Liver Disease

  • Hepatitis C: Therapeutics (MP Manns and T von Hahn, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

After exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) only a minority of patients will resolve the infection spontaneously, and the prognosis of these patients is excellent. Patients with chronic HCV infection may develop hepatic fibrosis and can experience symptoms, although these remain largely non-specific up to the point cirrhosis has established. At the stage of cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma are the most important causes of the increased mortality. The rate of disease progression varies considerably among patients, and has been associated with several host and virus-related factors. Assessment of the patient’s individual risk for disease progression is relevant for guidance and clinical decision making, especially with all upcoming antiviral treatment improvements. Importantly, successful antiviral therapy has shown great potential to prevent chronification among patients with acute HCV infection as well as to prevent cirrhosis-related morbidity and mortality among those patients with chronic HCV infection.

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Conflict of Interest

Raoel Maan declare no conflict of interest.

The institution of Adriaan J. van der Meer received financial compensation for lecture activities from MSD.

The institution of Robert J. de Knegt received financial compensation for consultancy and/or lecture activities or patents from Merck, Janssen, Roche, Gilead, and Medtronic, and research grants from Merck and Roche.

Bart J. Veldt is a paid board member for GSK.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Adriaan J. van der Meer, Raoel Maan, Robert J. de Knegt & Bart J. Veldt

  2. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, ‘s Gravendijkwal 230, Room Ha 206, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Adriaan J. van der Meer, Raoel Maan & Bart J. Veldt

  3. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, ‘s Gravendijkwal 230, Room Ha 203, 3015 CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Robert J. de Knegt

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  1. Adriaan J. van der Meer
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van der Meer, A.J., Maan, R., de Knegt, R.J. et al. Natural History of HCV-induced Liver Disease. Curr Hepatitis Rep 12, 251–260 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-013-0195-1

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