The disease is most prevalent in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Armed Forces veterans and prisoners. Of the 800,000 people who are treated annually for the disease, only 40 percent respond to treatment and clear the virus completely. It often leads to liver cirrhosis or cancer. There is no specific treatment for acute hepatitis.
Acute hepatitis is when the disease has a sudden, and often severe onset.
It is the opposite of chronic hepatitis. Chronic hepatitis, which is often difficult to treat, may be treated by alpha-interferon in selected individuals. Interferon is a main component in the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C, but only about 20 percent of the patients treated with interferon alone have a sustained response. Interferon alpha is a naturally occurring glycoprotein that is secreted by cells in response to viral infections. When it is combined with the drug interferon, it allows the interferon to be administered fewer times and to remain at a sustained level.