[Hepatitis C].

Abstract

HCV carriers are supposed to me 100,000,000 worldwide. 5-15% of subjects are infected via haemotransfusion and another significant amount via intravenous drugs; nevertheless in the major part of subjects the via of transmission remains unclear. HCV causes long-term infectious in the host because of its high frequency of mutations. Mutations origin multiple mutants, called quasi-species, who have distinct immunological features and can so easily escape host immune response. Chronic HCV infection leads to cirrhosis in 5-10 years and to a possible hepatocarcinoma in 15-20 years. Nevertheless, it remains unclear why some patients undergo a slight clinical course, while others experience an aggressive one (exitus in less than 5 years). Alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) is at date the only drug of proven efficacy in HCV chronic hepatitis, even if HCV eradication is a rare event. The goal to obtain is to standardize doses and duration of the treatment.

• Authors: A Gattoni, A Cecere, R Caiazzo, C Romano
• Journal: La Clinica terapeutica (Clin Ter) Vol. 147 Issue 9 Pg. 413-38 (Sep 1996) ISSN: 0009-9074 [Print] Italy
• Vernacular Title: Epatite da virus C.
• PMID: 9102232 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis C Antibodies
• Interferon-alpha

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Cryoglobulinemia (complications)
• Female
• Genome, Viral
• Hepacivirus (genetics, pathogenicity)
• Hepatitis C (complications, immunology, therapy, virology)
• Hepatitis C Antibodies (isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged