title: Cure of HCV related liver disease.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes chronic liver injury and can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV can also interact with the immune system to cause several HCV related disorders including essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, vasculitis, dermatitis, glomerulonephritis and lymphoma. A strong association between HCV and diabetes mellitus also exists. These extrahepatic features may lead to increased fatigue and a reduced quality of life. It is now possible to cure most patients with chronic HCV using oral antiviral therapy. Many of these HCV-related disorders and symptoms can be cured when HCV is eradicated. However, some patients may have irreversible injury to extrahepatic sites, cirrhosis that cannot resolve, an increased risk for HCC, persistent fatigue and a reduced quality of life, despite achieving sustained virological response.
authors.affiliation: Liver Institute of Virginia, Bon Secours Health System, Richmond and Newport News, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: Mitchell L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Shiffman
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benhamou
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology*; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology; D058625:End Stage Liver Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Chronic HCV; Cirrhosis; Extra-hepatic manifestations of HCV; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Oral anti-viral therapy; Sustained virologic response