title: Management of chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: One purpose of the Clinical Practice Guideline column is to increase the awareness of the broad availability of existing guidelines and recommendations on various health topics. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) currently accounts for 20% to 40% of acute viral hepatitis, 60% to 80% of chronic hepatitis, and 20% to 30% of cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and liver cancer. Nearly four million Americans are currently infected with hepatitis C. Nurse practitioners should be aware of the recommendations regarding the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of the disease. This column summarizes the content of two NIH documents regarding the care of patients with hepatitis C: Management of Hepatitis C: NIH Consensus Statement (NIH, 1997) and Chronic Hepatitis C: Current Disease Management (NIDDK, 2000).
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blackwell
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019468:Disease Management; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.); D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012254:Ribavirin