Clinical consequences of hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a positive strand RNA virus that belongs to the Hepacivirinae genus within the Flaviviridae family. HCV infection has a wide spectrum of cellular tropism and clinical presentations. This has major impacts in terms of pathogenesis and diagnosis. Consequently, a wide range of clinical consequences characterises this viral infection, including asymptomatic chronic carriage, acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic manifestations. The latter are commonly observed and may represent the first sign of the disease. A better knowledge of the pathobiology of HCV and its clinical consequences will be important for developing better treatment strategies to cure HCV infection and extrahepatic manifestations. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.