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Patients with chronic hepatitis C can develop cirrhosis, a serious condition characterized by scarring of the liver – but just how many patients actually reach this point?
There’s been an increase in the number of Americans with hepatitis C who also have cirrhosis, according to a study published in the Journal of Hepatology. This prevalence was analyzed both in people who knew that they had the liver infection and those who were unaware.
“Among HCV-infected American adults, the proportion with cirrhosis has increased rapidly. Cirrhosis prevalence remains high in individuals unaware of their HCV infection. These data highlight the urgency for HCV screening regardless of symptoms, systematic assessment for liver fibrosis in those with HCV infection and institution of antivirals to prevent advanced liver disease.”
See more at: http://goo.gl/I6byAZ