Doctor in gastroenterology

Chronic viral hepatitis

Definition

The B, C, D and G viruses are the cause of frequent chronic hepatitis. Infections with the HGV and TTV viruses are also common, but they have not been shown to cause chronic hepatitis. Until then, a distinction was made between so-called persistent chronic hepatitis (generally benign) and active chronic hepatitis, the risk of which is high in the course of cirrhosis. Today, more advanced means of investigation allow a more precise diagnosis and give indications of antiviral treatments or surveillance.

Epidemiological data

Chronic hepatitis is very common : 350 million people worldwide are affected by the B virus and 170 million by the C virus.

In 20% of cases, these hepatitis develops into cirrhosis with a 3 to 5% risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Symptoms of the disease

Most often the disease is latent, but there are some symptoms :
- asthenia, frequent but inconsistent ;
- cutaneous, articular, neurological, renal manifestations ;
- slight increase in liver volume.