| Theme | An Update on Hepatitis C Treatment | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis C | |
| Publish Date | 2003/11 | |
| Author | Hiroshi Yatsuhashi | National Nagasaki Medical Center, Clinical Research Center |
| [ Summary ] | The comparison between chronic hepatitis B and C indicated that chronic hepatitis C had few cured cases without treatment. The course of a typical case of HCC development is described below. In younger patients (under 50 years old), this disease does not progress. In older patients (over than 50 years old), chronic hepatitis C frequently developed to liver cirrhosis and finally to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Predictions for HCC development are made from the degree of liver fibrosis obtained from liver biopsy. We developed a methodology for estimation of liver fibrosis by not using liver biopsy but the findings on the number of platelets and Type IV collagen titered inserum. The final stage of chronic hepatitis C is HCC development and one purpose of the treatment for hepatitis C is prevention of HCC development. |
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