Hepatitis C and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Hubert E. Blum
Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorHubert E. Blum
Department of Medicine II, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorHoward C. Thomas BSc, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci
Emeritus Professor of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnna S.F. Lok MD
Alice Lohrman Andrews Research Professor in Hepatology, Director of Clinical Hepatology, Professor of Internal Medicine, Associate Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorStephen A. Locarnini MBBS, BSc(Hons), PhD, FRCPath
Head, Research & Molecular Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorArie J. Zuckerman MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci
Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology, Formerly Principal and Dean, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Hepatitis C virus infection is one of the major causes of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The genetic structure, genomic organization, and molecular biology of HCV, including the viral life cycle, as well the epidemiology, transmission, and natural course of HCV infection, have been studied in great detail. The continuous improvement of antiviral therapy and the most recent advances suggest that an effective treatment of most patients with chronic HCV infection may become reality in the near future.
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