title: [Hepatitis C].
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), identified in 1989, is the main agent of Non-A, Non-B hepatitis. The number of HCV carriers in France is estimated between 500,000 and 2 millions. The main risk factors for HCV infection are blood products transfusion and i.v. drug abuse. Cirrhosis occurs in 30% of cases with a delay ranging from 10 to 30 years, and hepatocellular carcinoma in 2.5% of cases. Interferon is, for instance, the only effective therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C; however, prolonged response (in terms of transaminase normalization) after stopping treatment occurs only in 20% of patients.
authors.affiliation: Unité d'hépatologie, hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giral
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serfaty
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loria
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poupon
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: L'hépatite C.