EASL Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of hepatitis C virus infection

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease worldwide [1]. The long-term hepatic impact of HCV infection is highly variable, from minimal changes to chronic hepatitis, extensive fibrosis, and cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The number of chronically infected persons worldwide may exceed 200 million, but most of them have no knowledge of their infection or of the ensuing hepatic condition. Clinical care for patients with HCV-related liver disease has advanced considerably during the last two decades, as a result of growing knowledge about the mechanisms of the disease, remarkable developments in diagnostic procedures, and advances in therapeutic and preventative approaches.