Cohort study: Apparent redundancy of fibrosis assessment in young persons with HCV; development of realistic approaches to break the paradigm.

Introduction And Objectives: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a blood-borne, hepatotropic RNA virus causing both acute and chronic infection. Chronic HCV infection predisposes individuals to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Staging of fibrosis prior to treatment to determine either treatment choice or required follow up, is standard practice.