Hepatitis C virus infection: detection and treatment.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a blood-borne virus that infects the liver. HCV affects millions of Americans, and poses a serious public health threat with sequelae such as cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. This paper reviews means of transmission, characteristics of the various risk groups, and clinical presentations of both the acute and chronic stages of HCV infection. Diagnostic methods, including screening and confirmatory tests, along with relevant clinical and physiologic findings are also described. Additionally, treatment strategies, in particular combination therapy with interferon alpha-2b and ribavirin, are discussed. Contraindications, side effects, and monitoring of this therapeutic modality are considered. Finally, prospective treatments are presented.