Hepatitis C, stigma and cure

Table 1 Benefits of cure of hepatitis C

Benefits of cure of hepatitis
1 Negative HCV RNA (viral load) for life, in more than 99% of cases
2 Negative HCV RNA in the liver
3 HCV RNA negativation in PBMC
4 No detection of the genotype
5 Sometimes, a few year later, the anti-HCV test can became negative, the so called “seroreversion”
6 Normalization of aminotransferases (AST, ALT) and GGT
7 Changing of ultrasound findings (contours can became regular, reduce of diameter of portal vein in case of portal hypertension)
8 Disappearance of the lymphnodes near the liver (helium)
9 Decrease of the values for Elastography (Fibroscan®)
10 Reducing the risk of progression to cirrhosis
11 Reversion of cirrhosis in some cases
12 Disappearance of oesophageal varices
13 Reducing the risk of progression to liver cancer
14 Reduced risk of decompensated liver disease (ascites, jaundice, rupture of oesophageal varices, encephalopathy)
15 Reducing to zero the risk of recurrence after liver transplantation (if necessary)
16 Improved quality of life (asthenia, fatigue, general well-being)
17 Reducing of the psychological impact (anxiety/depression)
18 Disappearance of the risk of sexual transmission
19 Disappearance of the risk of perinatal transmission
20 Decrease in the insurance premium
21 Cure of associated conditions (porphyria cutanea tarda, polyneuropathy, urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, splenic lymphoma)
22 Reducing personal, family and social stigma
23 The treatment is proved cost-effective
24 Benefit to public health
25 Reduced risk of death from liver disease
26 Neurocognitive improvement
27 Cure of hepatitis C

Benefits of virological response (HCV RNA negative 24 wk after finishing therapy). HCV: Hepatitis C virus; PBMC: Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase.