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Hepatitis C

Updated : November 4, 2022





Background

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that yields liver inflammation and, in severe cases, liver damage. It is transmitted through contaminated blood.

The Hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent blood-borne pathogen and a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity. Since the emergence of highly effective direct-acting antivirals in 2011, the treatment landscape has significantly changed.

Epidemiology

More than 185 million individuals are estimated to be infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Its prevalence in developed countries typically ranges from 1% to 2%. With 5.0 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013, HCV had the highest mortality rate and fatalities. The frequency of perinatal transmission ranges from 0-4%.

Most patients in Europe and the United States contract the infection through intravenous substance abuse or medical care in regions with limited resources. HCV genotypes vary significantly across the globe, according to classification. About 60–70% of isolates from the United States alone are of genotype 1, widely distributed worldwide.

West and Central Africa region has the highest prevalence of genotype 2. In Asia, genotype 3 is prevalent and is strongly associated with drug use. In North America and the Middle East, genotype 4 is widely distributed. Southeast Asia and South Africa are home to genotypes 5 and 6, respectively. The Congo region is where genotype 7 is found.

Anatomy

Pathophysiology

Four co-receptor molecules allow the RNA virus to enter the hepatocyte through endocytosis. Its positive-stranded RNA is internalized in the cytoplasm, where it is uncoated and transcribed into ten mature peptides, which are then dissociated by virally encoded NS3-4a serine as host proteases.

These fully developed peptides then move to the endoplasmic reticulum, forming a replication complex with the crucial enzyme NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This enzyme converts the positive RNA into an intermediate negative strand, which then acts as a template for synthesizing new, positive strands.

These become mature virions combined with the core, enclose glycoprotein, and exit the cell through exocytosis. HCV cannot ingest into the genome of the host. Usually, the virus can be found in plasma within one to four weeks after exposure. In 50-85% of most cases, viremia continues after peaking in the first 8-12 weeks of infection.

After that, it peeks or declines to undetectable levels, known as viral clearance. Weak CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses that cannot stop viral replication are thought to cause persistent infection.

Cirrhosis is associated with rapid fibrosis progression and several external variables, including alcohol use, HIV or HBV coinfections, infection with Genotype 3, insulin resistance, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Through encouraging genetic anomalies and neoplastic clones, liver fibrosis severity closely correlates with an elevated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Etiology

There are three structural proteins, the nucleocapsid protein, core (C), and two envelope proteins, E1 and E2; two proteins required for virion formation, p7 and NS2; and five non-structural proteins required for viral replication such as NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B.

The NS5B RNA polymerase generates a high virion turnover in the absence of proofreading, leading to the creation of viral variants, also known as quasispecies.

Genetics

Prognostic Factors

Only 10-15% of patients have a self-limited disease; the others have a progressing infection. Cirrhosis will affect approximately 20% of people within two decades, and liver cancer will affect another 1 to 5% within three decades.

The condition progresses more frequently among alcoholics, cirrhotics, and individuals with a concomitant HBV infection. Individuals with an undetectable viral load had a lower risk of acquiring cirrhosis and death.

Clinical History

Physical Examination

Age group

Associated comorbidity

Associated activity

Acuity of presentation

Differential Diagnoses

Laboratory Studies

Imaging Studies

Procedures

Histologic Findings

Staging

Treatment Paradigm

by Stage

by Modality

Chemotherapy

Radiation Therapy

Surgical Interventions

Hormone Therapy

Immunotherapy

Hyperthermia

Photodynamic Therapy

Stem Cell Transplant

Targeted Therapy

Palliative Care

Medication

 

peginterferon alfa - 2b

Combination Therapy:

1.5

mcg/kg

Subcutaneous (SC)

once a week

Genotype 1: 48 - Genotype 2 and 3: 24

weeks

Monotherapy: 1 mcg/kg subcutaneously (SC) once a week 1 year



ledipasvir/sofosbuvir 


One tablet orally every day



 

ledipasvir/sofosbuvir 


<3 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>3 years:
<17kgs: 1 tablet (33.75mg/150mg) of pellets orally every day
17 to <35kg: 1 tablet (45mg/200mg) of pellets orally every day
>35kgs:1 tablet(90mg/400mg) orally everyday or 2 tablet(45mg/200mg) orally everyday



 

Media Gallary

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/

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Hepatitis C

Updated : November 4, 2022




Hepatitis C is a viral infection that yields liver inflammation and, in severe cases, liver damage. It is transmitted through contaminated blood.

The Hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent blood-borne pathogen and a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity. Since the emergence of highly effective direct-acting antivirals in 2011, the treatment landscape has significantly changed.

More than 185 million individuals are estimated to be infected with the Hepatitis C virus. Its prevalence in developed countries typically ranges from 1% to 2%. With 5.0 deaths per 100,000 people in 2013, HCV had the highest mortality rate and fatalities. The frequency of perinatal transmission ranges from 0-4%.

Most patients in Europe and the United States contract the infection through intravenous substance abuse or medical care in regions with limited resources. HCV genotypes vary significantly across the globe, according to classification. About 60–70% of isolates from the United States alone are of genotype 1, widely distributed worldwide.

West and Central Africa region has the highest prevalence of genotype 2. In Asia, genotype 3 is prevalent and is strongly associated with drug use. In North America and the Middle East, genotype 4 is widely distributed. Southeast Asia and South Africa are home to genotypes 5 and 6, respectively. The Congo region is where genotype 7 is found.

Four co-receptor molecules allow the RNA virus to enter the hepatocyte through endocytosis. Its positive-stranded RNA is internalized in the cytoplasm, where it is uncoated and transcribed into ten mature peptides, which are then dissociated by virally encoded NS3-4a serine as host proteases.

These fully developed peptides then move to the endoplasmic reticulum, forming a replication complex with the crucial enzyme NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This enzyme converts the positive RNA into an intermediate negative strand, which then acts as a template for synthesizing new, positive strands.

These become mature virions combined with the core, enclose glycoprotein, and exit the cell through exocytosis. HCV cannot ingest into the genome of the host. Usually, the virus can be found in plasma within one to four weeks after exposure. In 50-85% of most cases, viremia continues after peaking in the first 8-12 weeks of infection.

After that, it peeks or declines to undetectable levels, known as viral clearance. Weak CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses that cannot stop viral replication are thought to cause persistent infection.

Cirrhosis is associated with rapid fibrosis progression and several external variables, including alcohol use, HIV or HBV coinfections, infection with Genotype 3, insulin resistance, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Through encouraging genetic anomalies and neoplastic clones, liver fibrosis severity closely correlates with an elevated risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

There are three structural proteins, the nucleocapsid protein, core (C), and two envelope proteins, E1 and E2; two proteins required for virion formation, p7 and NS2; and five non-structural proteins required for viral replication such as NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B.

The NS5B RNA polymerase generates a high virion turnover in the absence of proofreading, leading to the creation of viral variants, also known as quasispecies.

Only 10-15% of patients have a self-limited disease; the others have a progressing infection. Cirrhosis will affect approximately 20% of people within two decades, and liver cancer will affect another 1 to 5% within three decades.

The condition progresses more frequently among alcoholics, cirrhotics, and individuals with a concomitant HBV infection. Individuals with an undetectable viral load had a lower risk of acquiring cirrhosis and death.

peginterferon alfa - 2b

Combination Therapy:

1.5

mcg/kg

Subcutaneous (SC)

once a week

Genotype 1: 48 - Genotype 2 and 3: 24

weeks

Monotherapy: 1 mcg/kg subcutaneously (SC) once a week 1 year



ledipasvir/sofosbuvir 


One tablet orally every day



ledipasvir/sofosbuvir 


<3 years: Safety and efficacy not established
>3 years:
<17kgs: 1 tablet (33.75mg/150mg) of pellets orally every day
17 to <35kg: 1 tablet (45mg/200mg) of pellets orally every day
>35kgs:1 tablet(90mg/400mg) orally everyday or 2 tablet(45mg/200mg) orally everyday



https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430897/

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