title: [Epidemiology and natural history of hepatitis C].
abstract: The estimated prevalence of hepatitis C infection in France is of 0.86%. The use of intravenous drugs is currently the main cause of hepatitis C infection and it may be responsible for 4400 new infections per year in France. The acute HCV infection is commonly asymptomatic and the progression from acute to chronic hepatitis range from 55 to 85%. Age at infection, alcohol consumption and gender have a significant impact on the progression of fibrosis. The fibrosis seems to progress linearly with an acceleration after 50 years of age. HCV is the second cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in France.
authors.affiliation: Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, CHU de Nancy et Inserm EMI 14, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy. jp.bronowicki@chu-nancy.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bronowicki
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Barraud
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peyrin-Biroulet
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors