Please Note: This page focuses on the symptoms and stages of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, as well as the prognosis for persons who are currently living with HCV or who have been cured of the infection.

If you are interested in approved and experimental HCV treatments and their potential to cure chronic HCV infection, please visit these two related pages: Hepatitis C: Treatment with Approved Medications and Hepatitis C: New and Experimental Treatments.

General Information

Overview Information:

• The ABCs of Hepatitis (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC)
• What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Hepatitis C? (American Liver Foundation)
• What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Hepatitis C? (Hepatitis Central)
• Complications of Hepatitis C: Other Complications (Hepmag)

Information from the Hepatitis C Trust’s Stages of Hepatitis C Pages:

• Introduction
• Overview of the Stages
• Factors Affecting Progression
• Symptoms
• The Acute Phase
• The Chronic Phase
• End-Stage Liver Disease

Information from the HCV Advocate Web Site:

• Hepatitis C Disease Progression
• HCSP Training Manual, Section 6: HCV Symptoms and Progression
• Managing Common Symptoms
• HCV Disease Progression: Acute Hepatitis C
• HCV Disease Progression: Steatosis
• HCV Disease Progression: What Is Fibrosis?
• HCV Disease Progression: What Is Cirrhosis?
• HCV Disease Progression: Symptoms and Complications of Cirrhosis
• An Overview of Extrahepatic Manifestations of Hepatitis C [effects outside the liver]

Selected Recent Articles

• Curing Hepatitis C Can Also Reduce Fatigue.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• HCV/HIV coinfection contributes to mortality of patients awaiting LT [liver transplant].  (September 2016, Healio)
• HIV Meds Haven’t Prevented End-Stage Liver Disease in Those with Hepatitis.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• People Cured of Hep C Still Have Elevated Risk of Death.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• Real-World Hepatitis C Cure Rates Higher with 2 Direct Acting Agents.  (September 2016, TheBodyPro)
• The PROP UP Study The Patient-Reported Outcomes Project of HCV-Target.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• People Cured of Hep C Still Have Elevated Risk of Death.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• Improvements in HIV treatment and care have had no impact on rates of endstage liver disease among HIV-positive patients with viral hepatitis.  (September 2016, AIDSmap)
• Statins reduce risk of progression to cirrhosis in HIV/HCV-co-infected people.  (September 2016, AIDSmap)
• The Dangers of Drinking with Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis.  (September 2016, Hepmag)
• Perhaps Having HIV Doesn’t Always Raise Fibrosis Risk in Those with Hepatitis C.  (August 2016, Poz)
• Statins Linked to Lower Risk of Cirrhosis in Those with HIV and Hepatitis C.  (August 2016, Poz)
• HIV not a risk factor for fibrosis progression in people with hepatitis C.  (August 2016, AIDSmap)
• Direct-acting antiviral ‘revolution’ improves treatment of HIV/HCV coinfection.  (August 2016, Healio)
• Hospitalization for Infection Is Linked with Risk of Death From Suicide.  (August 2016, Poz)
• As People with Genotype 3 of Hepatitis C Age, Fibrosis Marches On.  (July 2016, Hepmag)
• Generic hep C drugs as effective as high-cost brand names, plus other European Liver Conference highlights.  (May 2016, Beta Blog)
• Treating Hepatitis C Ups Quality of Life of Injection Drug Users, Who Are at Risk for Reinfection.  (May 2016, Hepmag)
• Does having HIV affect response to hepatitis C treatment?  (May 2016, AIDSmap)
• HCV associated with increased risk of cancers of the head and neck.  (May 2016, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C therapy improves quality of life for people who inject drugs, but reinfection risk remains.  (May 2016, AIDSmap)
• Marker Predicts Death Risk in Women With HIV and Hepatitis C.  (May 2016, Hepmag)
• People treated for hepatitis C have unexpectedly high rate of liver cancer recurrence.  (April 2016, AIDSmap)
• Whether a Liver Transplant Has Hepatitis C Has No Bearing on Outcome for People With Hep C.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C Is Possibly Linked with Head and Neck Cancers.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Those Who Fail Hepatitis C Treatment Have an Excellent Subsequent Shot.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Treating Hepatitis C During Compensated Cirrhosis Increases Survival.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C Treatment Could Taper the Liver Transplant Waiting List.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C treatment may not be enough to stop the progress of advanced liver disease, or reduce liver transplant need.  (April 2016, AIDSmap)
• Post Hepatitis C Treatment, Liver Cancer’s Return Still Looms as a Threat.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C Treatment and Cirrhosis.  (April 2016, Hepmag)
• Delaying Hepatitis C Treatment May Increase Liver-Related Death Risk in Those with HIV.  (April 2016, Poz)
• Liver Cancer Death Rate Increasing Faster Than All Other Cancers; Implementation of Viral Hepatitis Action Plan Urgently Needed.  (March 2016, Hepmag)
• CDC Statement on Liver Cancer and Hepatitis. (March 2016, Project Inform); related coverage from Hepmag
• Deferred HCV therapy in MSM with HIV/HCV increases risk for mortality. (March 2016, Healio)
• Hepatitis C Cure is Linked to Lowered Risk of Death, Kidney Disease and Diabetes in Those With HIV (March 2016, Poz)
• Coffee May Reduce the Risk of Death Among Those Coinfected with HIV and Hepatitis C. (March 2016, Poz)
• Hep C Relapses Are Uncommon Among Those Proclaimed Cured, But Reinfection is a Concern. (March 2016, Poz)
• HCV, HBV, alcohol use associated with ESLD in patients with HIV. (February 2016, Healio)
• Cardiovascular disease risk is higher for people with hepatitis C.  (January 2016, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C virus linked to increased risk of Parkinson’s disease, studies show.  (January 2016, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C virus infection causes rheumatoid arthritis, before HCV detection.  (December 2015, Hepmag)
• Treating Hep C Earlier Is More Cost-Effective.  (December 2015, Hepmag)
• Hep C Hurts the Heart.  (December 2015, Hepmag)
• HIV No Longer Holds Down Hep C Cure Rates.  (December 2015, Hepmag)
• Less Liver Fibrosis for Coffee Drinkers With Hep B or C.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Clinical impact of effective HCV DAAs: referrals for liver transplant drop after their introduction.  (November 2015, AIDSmap)
• Urgency of Hep C Treatment Rises as Fibrosis Advances.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Liver fibrosis improves after successful treatment for hepatitis C.  (November 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C Cure Often Leads to Improvement in Liver Health.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Today’s Hep C Drugs May Avert Many Liver Transplants.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Hep C Ups Risk of Anemia-Related Problems for Those on Dialysis.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Liver cancer risk will remain elevated for people with cirrhosis cured of hepatitis C.  (November 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C Treatment is Finished, so Now What?  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Curing Hep C Lowers Risk of Death in Those Coinfected with HIV.  (November 2015, Hepmag)
• Successful hepatitis C treatment lowers risk of death for people with HIV and HCV co-infection.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Injection Drug Users Are Likely to Develop Serious Liver Damage by Middle Age.  (October 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C-Related Deaths Climb Steadily.  (October 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C-related mortality continues to increase in the U.S.  (October 2015, AIDSmap)
• Preventing Liver Cancer Among People With Hepatitis C.  (October 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C Linked With Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease.  (October 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C and Depression.  (September 2015, Hepmag)
• Cures With Benefits.  (September 2015, Hepmag)
• Fatty liver may contribute to higher risk of death for HIV/HCV co-infected people.  (August 2015, AIDSmap)
• HCV infection associated with hardening of the coronary artery.  (August 2015, AIDSmap)
• Cure Hep C and You May See Your Liver Health Improve.  (August 2015, Hepmag)
• Liver Biopsies Miss 75% of Hep C-Related Cirrhosis Cases.  (August 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C cure associated with significant improvement in liver stiffness in people with HIV and HCV co-infection.  (August 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C May Hurt the Heart in Addition to the Liver.  (August 2015, Poz)
• Mortality Greater, CD4 Count Gains Slower in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients.  (August 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Hepatitis C Largely Explains Higher Mortality in Injection Drug Users With HIV.  (August 2015, TheBodyPro)
• High Rates of Liver Disease in People With Long-Term Hep C.  (August 2015, Hepmag)
• Cirrhosis and decompensation are common among people with chronic hepatitis C.  (August 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C and Pain, Part 2.  (August 2015, Hepmag)
• Liver fibrosis regression after hepatitis C treatment linked to reduced complications and death in people with HIV and HCV co-infection.  (July 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hep C Coinfection Increases Death Risk in Drug Users With HIV.  (July 2015, Hepmag)
• Hep C Worsens Progression of Hep B Disease.  (June 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C and Pain, Part 1.  (June 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis B and C co-infection linked to worse liver fibrosis than hepatitis B alone.  (June 2015, AIDSmap)
• Coffee and the Liver.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• Statin use associated with lower risk of liver decompensation and death in hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis.  (May 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hep C Treatment Can Help Those With Advanced Liver Disease.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• People with hepatitis C have higher cancer rates, even when excluding liver cancer.  (May 2015, AIDSmap)
• One in Five People With Hep C Likely Have Advanced Liver Disease.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• Another study confirms detrimental effects of delaying hepatitis C treatment.  (May 2015, AIDSmap)
• Putting Off Hep C Treatment Raised Risks With Older Treatments.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• Statins Appear Helpful to Hep C-Related Compensated Cirrhosis.  (May 2015, Hepmag)
• Hep C Not Highly Linked With Mortality, Absent Other Conditions.  (April 2015, Hepmag)
• Hepatitis C Is Linked With a Higher Overall Cancer Rate.  (April 2015, Hepmag)
• Alcohol misuse the strongest predictor of severe liver damage and death in French people with hepatitis C.  (April 2015, AIDSmap)
• Advanced liver damage is common in people with undiagnosed hepatitis C in U.S. survey.  (April 2015, AIDSmap)
• HCV viral load levels during treatment and speed of decline do not predict cure with interferon-free therapy.  (April 2015, AIDSmap)
• End-stage liver disease is a concern for people with HIV and hepatitis B or C co-infection.  (April 2015, AIDSmap)
• Hepatitis C: Predictors of Treatment Response.  (March 2015, Hepmag)
• Diagnosing and Treating Acute Hepatitis C: Is It Still Important? (March 2015, TheBodyPro)
• Progression to severe fibrosis or cirrhosis is common among baby boomers with hepatitis C in the U.S.  (March 2015, AIDSmap)
• Deferring hepatitis C treatment can lead to liver cancer and death, despite cure.  (March 2015, AIDSmap)
• Delayed HCV therapy may increase liver-related deaths.  (February 2015, Healio.
• People With Hep C Have High Rates of Depression and Poor Health.  (February 2015, Hepmag)
• Estimated U.S. Cirrhosis Rates Are 58% Higher Than Once Believed.  (January 2015, Hepmag)
• Wait a While Before Treating Acute Hepatitis C, Clinic Director Advises.  (December 2014, TheBodyPro)
• One million people with hepatitis C in the US at high priority for treatment.  (December 2014, AIDSmap)
• Many hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis or advanced fibrosis face liver failure and liver cancer.  (December 2014, AIDSmap)
• Fibrosis Progresses Quickly During First 5 Years of Hep C Infection.  (December 2014, Hepmag)
• Hep C Hospitalizations and Related Costs Are On the Rise.  (December 2014, Hepmag)
• AbbVie 3D regimen cures recurrent HCV in most liver transplant recipients without cirrhosis.  (November 2014, AIDSmap)
• DAAs show good cure rates and liver function improvement for transplant recipients with recurrent HCV.  (November 2014, AIDSmap)
• Hep C Cure Means Normal Lifespan for Those With Advanced Liver Disease.  (November 2014 for Hepmag)
• High Post-Liver Transplant Survival Rates for People With HIV.  (November 2014, Poz)
• Comparing Hep B- Versus Hep C-Related Liver Cancer Outcomes.  (November 2014, Hepmag)
• Hep C Cure Lowers Risk of Death, Liver Cancer and Transplants.  (November 2014, Poz)
• Sustained virological response to hepatitis C treatment reduces mortality, liver cancer and liver transplants.  (November 2014, AIDSmap)
• ‘3D’ Hep C Treatment Improves Liver Health in Cirrhotics.  (November 2014, Hepmag)
• Coffee, Even Decaf, May Promote Liver Health.  (October 2014, Poz)
• Higher Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Risk for Hep C Genotype 3.  (September 2014, Hepmag)
• Are Fibrosis Tests a Cost-Effective Way to Decide on Hep C Treatment?  (September 2014, Hepmag)
• Curing Hep C Lowers Central Nervous System Fatigue.  (September 2014, Hepmag)
• Hep C Suppression Linked to Major Health Benefits.  (September 2014, Hepmag)
• Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Risk Differs by Race for People With Hepatitis C.  (September 2014, Hepmag)
• The Price of NOT Curing Hepatitis C.  (July 2014, Poz)
• How Does Hep C Affect Men and Women Differently?  (July 2014, Hepmag)
• HCV is a major reason for healthcare utilisation in the United States.  (June 2014, AIDSmap)
• Sustained response to treatment reduces fatigue in hepatitis C patients. (May 2014, AIDSmap)
• Viral Hepatitis Kills More Europeans Than HIV by Tenfold.  (April 2014, Poz)
• Post-Transplant Survival Lower with HIV and HCV-1 Than with HCV-1 Alone. (March 2014, NATAP)
• Low lymphocyte count a risk factor for infections for people taking HCV therapy.  (January 2014, AIDSmap)
• ARVs Lower Advanced Liver Disease in Men With HIV & Hep C.  (January 2014, Hepmag)
• Starting antiretroviral therapy significantly reduces the risk of decompensated liver disease for men with HIV/HCV co-infection.  (December 2013, AIDSmap)
• Successful hepatitis C treatment reduces risk of liver cancer and death, but most remain untreated.  (November 2013, AIDSmap)
• Interferon response reduces liver disease and death in HIV/HCV co-infected people.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Women Spontaneously Clear Hep C Better Than Men.  (September 2013, Poz)
• Decompensated cirrhosis increases risk of liver cancer for people with HIV and viral hepatitis co-infection.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• People with HIV/HCV-co-infection and advanced liver fibrosis can rapidly develop decompensated liver disease.  (September 2013, AIDSmap)
• Treat Hep C if HIV-Coinfected Have Advanced Fibrosis.  (August 2013, Poz)
• High proportion of Canadian patients with HIV-HCV co-infection and liver cirrhosis are not having ultrasounds to check for liver cancer.  (August 2013, AIDSmap)
• No Link Between Pot and Liver Disease in HIV/Hep C Coinfected.  (August 2013, Poz)
• Liver Cancer Deaths Double in Two Decades.  (August 2013, Poz)
• Fibroscan accurately predicts liver decompensation and death in HIV/HCV co-infected people.  (July 2013, AIDSmap)