The consequences of hepatitis C viral infections

Like the virus itself, our understanding of the natural history rand consequences of HCV infections is constantly changing. whereas in the late 1970's, chronic HCV was generally considered a benign condition, presently we assume that at least 20 to 30% of chronic HCV carriers are in danger of developing and succumbing to complications of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Hopefully, this less optimistic impression reflects the large amount of data derived from tertiary care centres serving patients with more active and/or advanced disease. Perhaps as more population-based data is developed, the pendulum will swing back towards the impression of a more favorable outcome. Finally, it is hoped that the development of new, effective antiviral agents will significantly alter the natural history and consequences of this disease.