Vancouver V5Z 1M9. The Newsletter is supported by an educational grant from Schering Canada Inc. and GlaxoWellcome Canada. Since many patients with hepatitis C are asymptomatic, presentation may be incidental or fortuituos. Some patients may progress to the point of cirrhosis or even decompensated liver disease without any antecedent symptoms. Although the diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C can be made by checking for the antibodies and determining the presence of the HCV RNA, patients must be thoroughly assessed relative to their liver disease and other complications.
Treatment is important, prevention is vital.
Hepatitis C is spread predominantly by blood to blood and other ways are infrequent. Thus, all patients with chronic hepatitis C should be advised to minimize, if not elimate, alcohol use.