Hepatitis C virus (HCV), once known as "non-A, non-B" hepatitis, affects about 4 million Americans. It develops into a chronic infection in about 85% of all infected patients.
Like chronic hepatitis B, if left untreated, the chronic form of HCV has a greater chance of resulting in cirrhosis, liver cancer, or even liver failure. Liver failure due to chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.
The major risk factors for acquiring hepatitis C are intravenous drug use and transfusion of blood or blood products prior to 1992.
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