Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Mechanism of Disease Progression.

摘要

This proposal focuses on: (1) Effect of different HCV genotype infection in active duty military subjects. (2) Factors associated with progressive liver disease, (3) Liver histology progression of disease, (4) Laboratory evaluations on virologic and immunological markers of disease, (5) Detailed risk factor questionnaires, health survey and quality of life questionnaires. To date, 41 active duty subjects are enrolled in the study. It is premature to draw conclusions on this study. However, preliminary baseline data shows the following: The majority are Caucasians (58.5%), most are 40 years of age or older (63.4), most are men (85.4%) and 75.7% are enlisted service members. Liver biopsies showed fibrosis with portal expansion in 45%, bridging fibrosis (portal-portal or portal-central linkage) in - 22.5%, cirrhosis in 17. 5%, normal histology in 12.5% and 2.5% were inconclusive. The Child-Pugh's criteria showed that the majority of subjects were classified on grade A, two subjects were class C (one received a liver transplantation, one is waiting for one). One patient died recently of a brain tumor (hemagioblastoma) probably unrelated to HCV infection. Seventy six percent of these subjects received antiviral treatment.