Hepatitis C virus. What recent studies can tell us.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is responsible for most cases of non-A non-B hepatitis and is primarily spread by a parenteral route, although familial, sexual, and maternal transmission may occur rarely. Second-generation assays and the polymerase chain reaction facilitate detection of HCV infection. The association between HCV infection and hepatocellular cancer is well established, whereas the links between HCV infection and essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, porphyria cutanea tarda, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis remain to be defined more clearly. Standard therapy for chronic HCV infection remains interferon alfa-2b (Intron A), although other agents may have potential. We eagerly await additional clarifying studies.