HCV+ Antibody Test:What’s the Likelihood of a Chronic Hep C Infection?

[Hep Editors]

Some basics about HCV: Soon after the hepatitis C virus enters the body, it infects cells in the liver called hepatocytes. At this point, only about 25% of people will actually experience symptoms of infection (fatigue, decreased appetite, nausea, jaundice).

However, almost all people will experience an increase in liver enzymes—such as serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)—which can be detected by a simple blood test, and will test positive for HCV antibodies.

After that, about 15-25% of people who are infected with hep C actually manage to clear the virus from their bodies naturally, which happens within 6 months after an infection and is far more common among women. The rest, 75-85%, will get a chronic hepatitis C infection, which will stay with them for life.

Of these 75-85 people for every 100 people infected, about 15 will remain healthy and will not develop liver disease, cirrhosis, etc. The remaining 60 to 70 people will go on to develop signs of the disease which may require treatment.

For more info: http://www.hepmag.com/articles/2512_18751.shtml

[Debula]

Wow I did not know this.  I had no clue some actually can clear on their own

After that, about 15-25% of people who are infected with hep C actually manage to clear the virus from their bodies naturally, which happens within 6 months after an infection and is far more common among women

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[dragonslayer]

>>Of these 75-85 people for every 100 people infected, about 15 will remain healthy and will not develop liver disease, cirrhosis, etc. The remaining 60 to 70 people will go on to develop signs of the disease which may require treatment.<<

If Im not mistaken, this is in stark contrast to what we used to be told about HCV, ie, that 70% of those infected with chronic HCV will not show symptoms in their lifetimes.     So now, that number is closer to 20% that will be symptom free, and not the 70% that we used to hear?

http://hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/easyfacts/exposure.pdf