Epidemiología molecular del virus de la hepatitis C

Abstract

Chronic infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to be a public health problem worldwide, affecting about 200 million people worldwide. This is the first leading cause of death and transplantation of hepatic origin. The natural course of the disease is the development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma risk development. It is an silent disease, whose diagnosis by clinical signs supposed to detect in advanced stages. The initial diagnosis is made by detecting antibodies anti-HCV and confirmed by demonstrating viral replication. The indication for treatment is established after assessing the degree of fibrosis and HCV genotype has infected the patient.