|
Home
What is
Hepatitis
How is it
Transmitted
Long Term
Prognosis
Complications of
HCV
Liver
Biopsy
Treatment Info
(Interferon, Herbal, etc)
Lab Tests (PCR,
Genotype,etc.)
Nutrition
& Alternative Info
Patient
Information (Support Groups, Doctor Listing,
etc)
Related
Webpages
Transplant
Info
Site
Search
HCV
Webrings
My
Guestbook
Site
Awards
FAQ &
Disclaimers
|
Physical Symptoms
- mild to severe lethargy
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- soreness in the upper right part of the abdomen (under the
ribs)
- fever
- pain in the joints
- yellowed skin and eyes
- dark-colored urine
Psychological Symptoms
- inability to focus or concentrate
- mood-swings
- anger
- depression
Clinical features:
About one-third of the cases follow acute hepatitis, but most
develop insidiously de novo. Nonspecific malaise, anorexia, and
fatigue often dominate the clinical picture, sometimes with
low-grade fever and nondescript upper abdominal discomfort.
Jaundice is variable and is not always present. Signs of chronic
liver disease (eg, splenomegaly, spider nevi, and fluid retention)
usually eventually develop. Multisystemic or "immune"
manifestations often occur, especially in young women whose disease
is of idiopathic origin. These can affect virtually any body system
and include acne, amenorrhea, arthralgia, ulcerative colitis,
pulmonary fibrosis, thyroiditis, nephritis, and hemolytic anemia. A
minority of patients develop predominant cholestatic features
suggesting primarily biliary cirrhosis.
Laboratory abnormalities include those of active hepatocellular
inflammation, with predominant aminotransferase elevations and
variable bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase values. ALT and AST
levels are typically in the 100- to 500-IU-L range, though values
can exceed 1000 IU-L and create confusion with acute hepatitis; in
such cases other laboratory clues to chronicity may aid the
diagnosis (eg, low serum albumin). Cholestatic laboratory features
occasionally dominate. Serologic immune markers are common in
idiopathic chronic active hepatitis (eg, striking IgG elevations,
antinuclear Ab, smooth-muscle [anti-actin] Ab, LE cells, RF); these
markers are usually absent in chronic active hepatitis due to
viruses or drugs.
Home | What is HCV | Transmission |
Future |
Complications |
Biopsy |
Treatment
| Lab |
Nutrition |
Patient |
Links | Transplant |
Webrings |
Guestbook |
Awards |
FAQ
|
|