[Prognosis of chronic hepatitis C with regard to the aim of treatment].

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection and clinical prognosis of chronic hepatitis C were presented here to reveal the object of treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C. Hepatitis C Virus is transmitted by blood and blood products. After acute HCV infection, about 70% developed persistent HCV infection, and the diagnosis is by finding viral RNA in the serum of patients with anti-HCV antibody. Persistent HCV infection causes chronic hepatitis, in which the natural clearance of HCV is almost impossible and there is almost no natural cure for chronic hepatitis caused by HCV. Chronic hepatitis C tends to develop gradually and to progress to liver cirrhosis, and is involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. In Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C, 45% developed liver cirrhosis pass through a phase of chronic active hepatitis over a 15-year course after initial HCV infection, and 25% developed hepatocellular carcinoma over a 20-year course after the initial HCV infection. In addition the remaining patients may start to develop rapidly to chronic active hepatitis and to liver cirrhosis after 20 to 30 years duration of inactive phase. Thus, this type of chronic hepatitis reveals a poor long-term prognosis. For etiological treatment of chronic hepatitis C, eradication of persistent HCV infection is needed. If this is impossible, then preventing the development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma is important.