Hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma: A review of natural history

Abstract

The main causative factor for the chronic liver disease is infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Around the world, it has been estimated that almost 180 million people are carriers of HCV. Infection with HCV leads to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that is a frequent cause of mortality in HCV-infected patient. Among the most common cancers, it is ranked fifth worldwide. The annually death rate of HCC patients being caused by HCV is approximately 1 million. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that prolong infection with HCV is the main threat for the development of HCC. Keeping the knowledge about the causes of cirrhosis and development of HCC in HCV patients is consequently very important for improving treatment choices and health-care delivery. Effective precautionary measures that can prevent the progression of HCC have now been well illustrated. The perfect natural explanation of HCC pathogenesis is so diverse that treatment strategies are highly difficult. Therefore, in the case of nonmalignant hepatic disease follow-up of the patients and treatment options must take into account to prevent the progression to carcinoma. In this review, we have strived to describe natural disease course of HCV infection and the ways through which it progresses to malignant hepatic disease.

Study of some potential biomarkers in Egyptian hepatitis C virus patients in relation to liver disease progression and HCC

“…Miravirsen can thereby isolate and inhibit miR-122. There was a drop in HCV RNA levels, but no evidence of viral resistance [ 46 ].…”