Factors contributing to the evolution and outcome of cirrhosis in hepatitis C.

A number of factors are important in the evolution of chronic hepatitis C to cirrhosis. These include the length of time that the patient has been infected, the age at exposure, dual infection with other viruses, alcohol use, and genotypes, especially in liver transplant recipients. The diagnosis of cirrhosis is made by clinical assessment of the patient, the use of imaging studies, a thoughtful laboratory evaluation, and histologic examination of liver tissue.