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Description |
Hepatitis-C Virus (HCV) belongs to the Flaviviridae family and is the leading cause of chronic liver disease globally. It is estimated to infect about 170 million people around the world (WHO, 1997). Chronic HCV infection frequently leads to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and is associated with the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Acute infection occurs in only a few patients. In most cases the virus results in chronic infection taking 10–20 years before the emergence of liver disease, which is often accompanied by only mild or vague symptoms. Despite the seemingly benign onset of the disease, a significant number of patients with chronic hepatitis develop cirrhosis and its complications.
HCV infects only humans and chimpanzees; there are no small-animal models. The liver [...] |
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