Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. One type, hepatitis C, is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It usually spreads through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex with an infected person and from mother to baby during childbirth. The infection can last a lifetime and may lead to scarring of the liver or liver cancer. Medicines sometimes help, but side effects can be a problem.
Hepatitis C is commonly treated with a combination of pegylated interferon-alpha-2a and ribavirin. Genetic mutations near the interleukin 28B (IL28B) gene could identify people with chronic hepatitis C for whom these drugs are less likely to succeed.
Related to:
Hepatitis C, pegylated interferon-alpha-2a, ribavarin