Overview

• HCV ⇒ small, enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus
• Acute <6 months, Chronic >6 months
  • Most common type of hepatitis to become chronic
• Parenteral Transmission → sexual transmission and vertical transmission
• At Risk Patients → IV drug users, needlestick injury (health care workers), blood transfusion (esp. before 1992)
• Incubation period for 2 weeks to 6 months

Making Diagnosis

Clinical Features:

• 90% of acute infections are asymptomatic
• Malaise, Fever, RUQ pain, Hepatomegaly, Jaundice, N&V, Diarrhoea
• Chronic Hepatitis C (HCV RNA in blood for >6 months) → arthritis, arthralgia, eye problems (sjogren’s syndrome), cirrhosis, hepatocellular cancer, cryglobulinaemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (leading to renal dysfunction)

Investigations:

• HCV Serology → anti-HCV antibodies (IgM = acute, IgG = past exposure or chronic)
• RT-PCR → detection of HCV
• LFTs
• Liver Biopsy → assess degree of inflammation and liver damage. Useful for diagnosing cirrhosis.