Hepatitis C Virus (HCV): Current Screening Guidelines and Treatment Approaches

Medical Breakthroughs from Penn Medicine

Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Vincent Lo Re, MD, MSCE
In 2014, the CDC estimated a total of 2,194 cases of acute hepatitis across 40 states and estimates that 2.7-3.9 million people in the United States have chronic hepatitis C. Of every 100 persons affected by the disease, 75 to 85 will go on to develop chronic infection, 60 to 70 will go on to develop chronic liver disease, 5 to 20 will go on to develop cirrhosis over a period of 20–30 years, and 1 to 5 will die from the consequences of chronic infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis). Joining our host, Dr. Jennifer Caudle, is Dr. Vincent Lo Re, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology at Penn Medicine. Dr. Lo Re discusses the current screening guidelines and recommendations regarding hepatitis C, long-term patient care, and the current landscape of treatment options.