HEPATITIS C? WHAT IS - ANGLAIS - AbbVie Care
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ANGLAIS WHAT IS... HEPATITIS C?
HEPATITIS C
WHAT IS HEPATITIS C?
Hepatitis C is a disease caused by a virus (called Hepatitis C virus or DID YOU KNOW?
HCV) that causes inflammation of the liver. 1
Hepatitis is viral when it is caused by a virus. There are 5 main
The Hepatitis C Virus is a tiny organism that embeds itself into liver
types: A, B, C, D and E. 1
cells. 1
The aggressiveness of these viruses varies and they have
different methods of transmission. 3
The liver is a vital organ with many functions: it filters the blood by
eliminating toxins, stores energy in the form of sugar for subsequent Hepatitis can also be caused by toxic agents. Alcohol and some
use, is involved in digestion and blood coagulation, and produces medicines can be involved. 1
the vast majority of proteins. 1,2
ACUTE OR CHRONIC HEPATITIS C?
The disease has two phases: an acute phase and a chronic phase. 4
The acute phase is most commonly asymptomatic (which means that
LIVER the person affected does not experience any symptoms). In 15 to 30%
HEPATITIS C
VIRUS (HCV) of cases it clears up spontaneously: HCV is eliminated from the body
without the person requiring treatment. 3,4
Hepatitis C becomes chronic in 70 to 85% of cases that is the virus
becomes entrenched. It is called chronic when the infection persists
for more than 6 months. 4
DID YOU KNOW?
The hepatitis C virus is
transported in the blood
In France, more than 200,000 people are living with
to the liver, where it
multiplies and disrupts its chronic hepatitis C. 5
functioning.INFECTION
HOW IS THE HEPATITIS C VIRUS Sexual relations
which may cause an injury, in the presence of
TRANSMITTED? lesions, during monthly periods
Hepatitis C virus is transmitted through contact with the blood of an
infected person. 3
Mother/child
The intravenous use of drugs is currently the main method of infection, (the risk of mother-to-child transmission is 5% and
but coming into contact with infected blood may occur in other is dependent on the viral load)
circumstances. 3
Medical care
MAIN METHOD OF INFECTION blood transfusions especially; this method of
transmission is extremely rare nowadays
Sharing drug paraphernalia
intravenous and nasal routes (e.g. syringe, spoon, filter,
water, straw, etc.), smoke-inhaled route (crack pipe)
HOW CAN I PROTECT
Tattoos or piercings MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY?
through the use of contaminated, non-sterile,
equipment There is no vaccine against hepatitis C. 5
To avoid transmitting the virus, follow a few hygiene rules: do not
share grooming products with a cutting or piercing edge that can
come into contact with blood (shaver, nail clippers, tooth brush, hair-
Sharing personal grooming items removal items, etc.), nor drug-injection equipment, if you are a drug
that come into contact with blood user. 2,6
(e.g.: shavers, nail clippers, tweezers, etc.)
DID YOU KNOW?
Accidental exposure to blood
(e.g.: needle prick when receiving care from medical
staff) There is no risk of transmission through breast milk, saliva,
sweat, coughing, kissing, or touching, or when sharing food or
drink, or on toilets. 3SYMPTOMS & PROGRESSION
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF
OF HEPATITIS C? PROGRESSION OF HEPATITIS C?
Most of the time hepatitis C does not cause any symptoms. There- Not all cases of hepatitis C will necessarily progress. However,
fore you do not know you have it and can live for several years with hepatitis C can cause fibrosis or even cirrhosis after several years of
hepatitis C unwittingly. 1 progression. 1,2,6
Hepatitis C can sometimes cause very
unspecific symptoms. The most common
Healthy liver
symptom is severe and prolonged fatigue. 1
Fibrosis is scarring caused by damage
to liver cells by the HCV. It can be
aggravated by certain factors such as
the consumption of alcohol, cannabis,
tobacco, being overweight, or the
presence of another virus.
Other symptoms affecting Fibrosis may worsen over time. In 20%
different organs such as the of cases it causes cirrhosis: the liver is
kidneys, thyroid, skin, muscles no longer able to function normally.
or joint may appear.
This is referred to as “extrahe-
patic manifestations”. 1
Over time cirrhosis can cause liver
cancer. This occurs in 5% of people
with cirrhosis.DIAGNOSIS
WHAT DOES A HEALTH CHECK-UP WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
INVOLVE?
When hepatitis C is suspected or after receiving a positive diagnosis, These tests are important and necessary to: 6
your general practitioner or specialist doctor will carry out a health
check-up. This includes: 1,6,7 • Assess the condition of your liver
•L ook for other related conditions that may aggravate your hepatitis
C (such as HIV, hepatitis B)
• Determine the treatment and its duration
A medical consultation • Adapt your lifestyle, if necessary
• Plan the ongoing monitoring of your hepatitis
Blood tests to detect the presence of the virus.
The aim is to identify the presence of the RNA of the HCV;
DID YOU KNOW?
this is called viraemia. If the test results are positive, this
means that the virus is still present in the blood
A diagnosis of hepatitis C is carried out in 2 stages:
• Identification of HCV antibodies in the blood (serology).
Tests to evaluate liver damage (Fibroscan®, Fibrotest®). • If the antibody test is positive, the diagnosis will be confirmed by
These are non-invasive tests. Nowadays, liver biopsies (the the presence of the RNA of the virus in the blood (viraemia). 1
collection of liver fragments) are only used very rarely to
establish a diagnosis. It is possible to obtain a positive screening result without
having hepatitis C. This means that HCV antibodies have been
detected in your blood showing you have been in contract with
the virus in the past: this is referred to as positive serology. 1,2
A scan, to measure the volume of the liver. This test is not This occurs when a person has been infected with HCV during
systematically performed. their lifetime but they have eliminated the virus either naturally
or via treatment. 1
A RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) is a screening test for HCV (anti-
HCV antibodies) that is easily accessible via associations and in
Additional testing to look for related conditions, as well as
some healthcare facilities, providing a result within an extremely
extrahepatic manifestations.
short space of time. 6,8
RNA: Ribonucleic Acid HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HCV: Hepatitis C VirusTREATMENT
IS THERE A TREATMENT HEPATITIS C TREATMENT, HOW DOES
FOR HEPATITIS C? IT WORK?
YES! The treatments used to combat hepatitis C are called direct-acting
And unlike other chronic viral infections, hepatitis C is a disease that antivirals. 10
can be CURED.
Several different ones exist and they are often combined to treat
The aim of the hepatitis C treatment is to: 6,9
hepatitis C. 10
These medicines: 10,11,12
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
Remove the virus Stop and/or reduce
the damage to the liver
Are taken Over periods of Are well tolerated
orally 8 to 16 weeks
(24 weeks in rare
cases)
WHO IS THE HEPATITIS C TREATMENT
INTENDED FOR?
All people with an HCV infection can receive the treatment. 9 DID YOU KNOW?
Your doctor will determine the best treatment for you based on a
The current medicines cure more than 9/10 patients. 8
range of criteria such as the presence or absence of fibrosis and its
stage, the presence of other viral infections (HIV or other types of
hepatitis, for example), diseases and/or concomitant treatments, etc. 13ADVICE
DO I NEED TO CHANGE DO I NEED TO WATCH
MY LIFESTYLE? TO MY DIET?
If you have hepatitis C, you need to preserve your liver and limit It is not necessary to adjust your diet unless you are overweight. In all
anything that may accelerate the progression of hepatitis C and other cases, it is best to maintain a balanced diet. 1
liver diseases. 11,14
Talk to you doctor Talk to you doctor
Avoid:
Eau
The consumption of alcohol Tobacco and cannabis
DID YOU KNOW?
Your doctor can answer any questions you may have about
your hepatitis C.
If necessary, contact a patient association. There are many
local and national associations that can provide you with
information and assistance. Your care team will recommend
Being overweight Taking medicinal or plant-based the one best suited to your circumstances. 6
products without medical
advice, as some may be toxic
for the liverBIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
1. INPES. Hépatite C. Du dépistage au diagnostic. Questions et réponses. 2001.
2. INPES. Un dépistage positif, que faire ? 2009.
3.
Ameli.fr. Comprendre l’hépatite C. https://www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/
themes/hepatite-c/comprendre-hepatite, consulté le 05 mars 2018.
4. OMS. Hépatite C. Aide-mémoire N°164. Octobre 2017.
5. INPES. L’hépatite C.
6. HAS. La prise en charge de votre maladie : l’hépatite chronique C. Vivre avec
une hépatite chronique C. Guide ALD. Avril 2007.
7. Ameli.fr. Les symptômes, le diagnostic et l’évolution de l’hépatite C. https://
www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/themes/hepatite-c/symptomes-diagnostic-
evolution, consulté le 05 mars 2018.
8. HAS. Prise en charge de l’hépatite C par les médicaments antiviraux d’action
directe (AAD). Élargissement du périmètre de remboursement. Décembre
2016.
9. Ministères des affaires sociales et de la santé. Prise en charge thérapeutique
et suivi de l’ensemble des personnes infectées par le virus de l’hépatite C.
Rapport de recommandations 2016. Sous la direction du Pr Daniel Dhumeaux
et sous l’égide de l’ANRS et du CNS et avec le concours de l’AFEF.
10. HAS. Prise en charge de l’hépatite C par les médicaments antiviraux d’action
directe (AAD). Juin 2014.
11. AFEF. Association Française pour l’Étude du Foie. Recommandations AFEF
sur la prise en charge de l’hépatite C virale – mars 2017.
12. HAS. Rapport d’évaluation des antiviraux d’action directe dans le traitement
de l’hépatite C. Avis 2 Octobre 2016.
13. Ameli.fr. Le traitement de l’hépatite C. https://www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/
themes/hepatite-c/traitement-medical, consulté le 05 mars 2018.
14. Ameli.fr. Vivre avec une hépatite C chronique. https://www.ameli.fr/assure/
sante/themes/hepatite-c/vivre-hepatite-chronique, consulté le 05 mars 2018.Infiniment engagé
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