Hepatitis C-related cirrhosis. Current status

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects around 150 million people. It is a leading cause of liver related morbidity and mortality through its predisposition to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and end-stage liver complications. New treatments based on direct-acting antivirals have opened a new era in the management of HCV cirrhosis. They allow for HCV eradication without substantial side effects in almost all cirrhotic patients, reducing the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, liver decompensation and mortality. This review provides an update on HCV cirrhosis. The paper focuses on the disease burden and major progresses in the diagnosis, follow-up and treatment of this patient subgroup.

Keywords: Antivirales de acción directa; Chronic hepatitis C; Cirrosis hepática; Direct-acting antivirals; Hepatitis crónica C; Liver cirrhosis; Liver transplantation; Respuesta viral sostenida; Sustained virological response; Trasplante hepático.