Considered to be a silent epidemic, an estimated four million Americans are infected with HCV and may not know it until the disease has caused irreversible liver damage. With early diagnosis and intervention, there are effective therapies that can prevent the disease from progressing to cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. The liver, the largest gland in the body, is responsible for producing bile needed for digestion and for breaking down substances in the blood stream. HCV attacks the liver after transmission through contact with blood or blood products. However, according to Dr. Younossi, these symptoms occur in a minority of patients, with the vast majority remaining asymptomatic.
Diagnosis often occurs by chance during a routine medical exam.
Left untreated, HCV can smolder for decades, damaging the liver and resulting in liver failure. The virus is considered one of the major causes of liver cancer worldwide. U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher announced an initiative this summer to educate the public about the disease and to urge testing for those with the greatest risk. He joined with members of Congress to distribute a letter outlining who should be tested for the disease. Testing for hepatitis C involves a risk-assessment evaluation and a blood test.