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Center For Digestive Disorders
What is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. It is the most common form of viral hepatitis and the most significant
cause of chronic liver disease in the U.S. Hepatitis C is commonly transmitted by contact with contaminated blood.
20-30% of people with chronic hepatitis C get cirrhosis of the liver. The progression of hepatitis C is slow and
usually is not diagnosed until liver problems develop. Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C can lead to hepatocellular
carcinoma (liver cancer). If you have any of the following risk factors you should have a simple blood test to
diagnose if you have been exposed to Hepatitis C.
To determine whether one has hepatitis C, one has to obtain a simple blood test. See your doctor to perform this test.
Patients with chronic Hepatitis C must be closely monitored by a gastroenterologist, and in some cases treatment can be offered.
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