Pathophysiology of hepatitis C virus infection.
Any physiopathological hypothesis of HCV infection must explain at least some of the most characteristic features of this infection, namely: 1) persistent infection in the majority of exposed individuals, associated with a wide spectrum of histological damages and fluctuating biochemical expression; 2) low tendency towards spontaneous recovery; 3) high tendency to progress to cirrhosis; 4) high prevalence of autoimmune phenomenons; 5) very weak or absent immunity to reinfection. A model is given taking into account the nature of the HCV genome, the immune response of the host to the infection and the potential mechanisms(s) involved in viral persistence.
Camps
J
J
Department of Internal Medicine, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain.
Córdoba
J
J
Esteban
J I
JI
D000917:Antibody Formation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*