NORMAL RANGE
Negative - <=0.90
Equivocal - 0.91 1 1.10
Negative - >= 1.11
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly prevalent in the general population world wide.The biochemical changes occuring in an Hepatitis C virus infected person are increased levels of serum transaminases .It is also called as Parenterally transmitted non-A, non- B hepatitis or HCV.
Characteristics
Single stranded, , small, positive sense RNA , enveloped, 50 nm diameter, Flaviviridae
PATHOGEENICITY;
Negative - <=0.90
Equivocal - 0.91 1 1.10
Negative - >= 1.11
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly prevalent in the general population world wide.The biochemical changes occuring in an Hepatitis C virus infected person are increased levels of serum transaminases .It is also called as Parenterally transmitted non-A, non- B hepatitis or HCV.
Characteristics
Single stranded, , small, positive sense RNA , enveloped, 50 nm diameter, Flaviviridae
PATHOGEENICITY;
- Oneset is insidious, with anorexia, vague abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, progressing to jaundice ( less frequentlt than hepatitis B)
- Severity ranges from unapparent cases in approximately 90% of infections to rare fulminating, fatal cases; chronic liver disease with fluctuating or persistently elevated liver enzymes is common, occuring after 50 - 80 % of HCV infections in adults.
- Of those with chronic liver disease, 30% - 60 % may develop chronic active hepatitis and 5% - 20 % may develop cirhosis;chronic infection is often not symptomatic.
- There is an association between HCV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma, of these chronically infected persons, approximately 50% will develop cirhosis or cancer of the liver.
MODE OF TRANSMISSION
- Percutaneous exposure to contaminated blood and plasma derivatives; contaminated needles and syringes are important vehicles of spread, especially among injecting drug users.
- Risk of HCV transmission by hosehold contact and sexual activity has not been well defined, but efficiency of transmission via these routes appears to be low ;vertical transmission appears to be uncommon.
- However risk of transmission may increase when the mother is co-infected with HIV; in over 40% of cases, the risk factor (s) for HCV transmission cannot be identified.