What is the relationship between cirrhosis and hepatitis C?
Clipping occurs when a large amount of scar tissue is formed in the liver. Scars or fibrosis can be caused by inflammation or damage. Hepatitis C infections cause the liver to ignite and can cause cirrhosis over time. It is believed that chronic hepatitis infection is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the world, which means that there is a very close relationship between cirrhosis and hepatitis C.
hepatitis C is caused by viral infection. Infections spread through contact with infected blood or blood products. The use of injection drug and sharing incorrectly sterilized needles are the most common routes of virus transmission. Blood screening procedures eliminated the risk of infection of the virus from blood transfusions, although it was a risk before the beginning of 90 years. Many people with cirrhosis and hepatitis C infection do not have known exposure or risk factors. Infusion is short -term in approximately 25 percent of infected people. Acute infection does not cause liver damage. Although hepatitis C is the most common cause of cirHosa, only about 20 percent of people with chronic infection of hepatitis C develops cirrhosis.
Cirhosis related to hepatitis C takes decades. The prolonged inflammation is caused by the tissue of the scar, which gradually replaces a healthy living tissue. The hardened scars tissue blocks the blood flow of the liver and prevents the liver from functioning properly. While a healthy liver can regenerate cells to repair damage, the liver in the late stages of cirrhosis can no longer be repaired.
certain factors increase the risk of a person for the development of cirrhosis and hepatitis C. The most important risk factor is the past and current alcohol use. Other factors that accelerate progression to cirrhosis include the age of more than 45 years and coinfection of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or Hepatitis B virus.
treatment of cirrhosis and hepatitis C depends on the stage. People who have cirrhosis in earlyStage, have a good prognosis and can live for decades without complications. Treatment in the early stages is that the person keeps the person healthy as long as possible and the treatment of complications as they arise. Possible complications include ascity or the accumulation of fluids in the abdomen; encephalopathy or degenerative brain disease; or bleeding from Variceal. Liver transplantation is the only treatment of advanced cirrhosis.
Treatment of basic infection of hepatitis C is essential for controlling inflammation and liver damage. Standard therapy is a pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin. Ribavirin is an antiviral medicine that has a small effect on hepatitis virus. However, when Comrabavirin, which is included in interferon, becomes two to three times more efficient. Pegylled interferon is injected once a week for 24 or 48 weeks.