Weekend Reading: Natural history of hepatitis C
After receiving a hepatitis C diagnosis, the first task at hand is understanding how the virus damages the liver. A good place to start is with the Natural History Of Hepatitis C.
To date the natural history of hepatitis C remains controversial. Among HCV-infected individuals progression to advanced liver disease generally requires decades but is influenced by several host factors, the following offers an update on the natural history of hepatitis C using information found online at Medscape, NATAP, and the interactive website Hepatitis C Online.
The Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis C. An Updated Look at the Rate of Progression to Cirrhosis and the Incidence of Decompensation in a Large U.S. Health Maintenance Organization
Cirrhosis and the Incidence of Decompensation
The projected public health burden of HCV is based on old natural history studies. One presentation[6] suggested a need to reexamine the natural history of HCV because the current patient cohort is older and confounded by a higher prevalence of obesity, and other comorbid conditions that may affect the outcome of the disease. Therefore, investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
From 2002-2013, 60,338 adults had an HCV diagnosis code or a positive HCV RNA lab test. Of these, 33,124 HCV cases met inclusion criteria and were matched with 164,221 controls. Mean age of the HCV cases and non-HCV controls was 54 years. Among case-patients, 41% were white and 27% were Hispanic; among controls, the respective proportions were 46% and 28%.
Prevalent cirrhosis was found in 19% of the HCV-infected cohort and 1.4% of the non-HCV controls. The incident decompensation rate among previously compensated HCV patients with cirrhosis was 47%, which was almost twice the incident decompensation rate among non-HCV cirrhotic controls. Of note, 23% of HCV cases were diagnosed with cirrhosis after a median follow-up of 2 years, which indicates that the rates of development of HCV-related cirrhosis and decompensation are higher than previously reported. The authors attributed this to aging of the HCV cohort and associated comorbidities, such as obesity. Multivariable analyses to explore the relationship between baseline comorbid conditions and the incidence of cirrhosis and decompensation are ongoing.
Begin here....
We begin with a commentary titled, "Hepatitis C: 25 Years Old, and Fading," written by William F. Balistreri, MD., recently published over at Medscape. The good doctor writes about a study presented last month at "Digestive Disease Week," which suggested the rate of developing cirrhosis and decompensation in people with HCV is higher than previously thought. An excerpt follows with a link to corresponding slides provided this week by Jules Levin @ NATAP. In addition stroll over to "Hepatitis C Online" or download "Natural History of Hepatitis C Infection" for a quick review of related studies including; spontaneous clearance versus chronic infection and factors that may impact the rate of fibrosis,
Links
Cirrhosis and the Incidence of Decompensation
The projected public health burden of HCV is based on old natural history studies. One presentation[6] suggested a need to reexamine the natural history of HCV because the current patient cohort is older and confounded by a higher prevalence of obesity, and other comorbid conditions that may affect the outcome of the disease. Therefore, investigators conducted a retrospective cohort study at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
From 2002-2013, 60,338 adults had an HCV diagnosis code or a positive HCV RNA lab test. Of these, 33,124 HCV cases met inclusion criteria and were matched with 164,221 controls. Mean age of the HCV cases and non-HCV controls was 54 years. Among case-patients, 41% were white and 27% were Hispanic; among controls, the respective proportions were 46% and 28%.
Prevalent cirrhosis was found in 19% of the HCV-infected cohort and 1.4% of the non-HCV controls. The incident decompensation rate among previously compensated HCV patients with cirrhosis was 47%, which was almost twice the incident decompensation rate among non-HCV cirrhotic controls. Of note, 23% of HCV cases were diagnosed with cirrhosis after a median follow-up of 2 years, which indicates that the rates of development of HCV-related cirrhosis and decompensation are higher than previously reported. The authors attributed this to aging of the HCV cohort and associated comorbidities, such as obesity. Multivariable analyses to explore the relationship between baseline comorbid conditions and the incidence of cirrhosis and decompensation are ongoing.
- Nyberg LM, Li X, Chiang K, et al. The natural history of chronic hepatitis C. An updated look at the rate of progression to cirrhosis and the incidence of decompensation in a large U.S. health maintenance organization. Program and abstracts of Digestive Disease Week; May 16-19, 2015; Washington, DC. Abstract 809.
View All Slides@ NATAP
The Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis C. An Updated Look at the Rate of Progression to Cirrhosis and the Incidence of Decompensation in a Large U.S. Health Maintenance Organization
About Hepatitis C Online
Hepatitis C Online is a free educational web site from the University of Washington.
The site is a comprehensive resource that addresses the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of hepatitis C virus infection.
Hepatitis C Online is a free educational web site from the University of Washington.
The site is a comprehensive resource that addresses the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of hepatitis C virus infection.
Hepatitis C Online
PDF (Quick Review): Natural History of Hepatitis C Infection
Website Site:
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Spontaneous Clearance versus Chronic Infection
Variable Outcomes of Chronic Infection
Factors Impacting Rate of Progression of Fibrosis
Summary Points
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