Chronic hepatitis C infection. A disease ideally suited to management in the primary care setting.
BACKGROUND
The currently sub-optional efficacy of therapy for chronic hepatitis C infection makes other management modalities a priority.


OBJECTIVE
To address issues in overall management of hepatitis C infection through case studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Management of hepatitis C infection should cover discussion of hepatitis C transmission, natural history (prognosis) and therapy. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of hepatitis C RNA should be ordered in those patients with persistently normal liver function tests to determine the presence or absence of chronic infection. Other measures include assessment and counselling in relation to alcohol intake, and vaccination against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. In patients with abnormal liver function tests a liver biopsy should be considered in order to determine the stage of disease, thus enabling targeting of therapy to those at highest risk of progression to advanced liver disease.
University of New South Wales, Sydney.
G J
GJ
Dore
D000328:Adult; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male