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View the video entitled About Your Liver Announcer: The information provided in this video is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, you should contact your health care provider. Segment 3: What effect does hepatitis C infection have on my liver? Jacobson: In about 15% of patients who are infected with hepatitis C, the infection resolves within the first 6 months, without any lasting effect. These patients are said to have an acute infection. However, the majority of patients infected with HCV--75 to 85%--develop a chronic infection. The term "chronic" is used to describe an infection that lasts longer than 6 months. Once chronic infection is in place, the virus is rarely cleared from the body in the absence of treatment. The natural history of chronic HCV infection can vary dramatically between individuals. Some develop only a minor inflammation of the liver, and never have serious complications. On the other end of the spectrum, some patients have a very severe reaction to the virus, and develop severe liver disease in as little as 5 years. Most, however, fall in between these two extremes. The first step in the liver's reaction to infection is inflammation, just like what happens when a cut on your finger becomes infected. As infection and inflammation continue, healthy liver cells are injured or destroyed, which stimulates the development of scar tissue. This process of scarring is known as fibrosis. Cirrhosis develops once a large portion of the working liver cells is replaced by scar tissue. With cirrhosis, the liver cells are separated into tight groups called nodules, which are surrounded by cords of scar tissue. Blood flow through the liver is disturbed by this process, and the liver also cannot function as efficiently. When the liver continues to perform its functions adequately despite cirrhosis, it is called compensated cirrhosis. When the liver can no longer do its job efficiently, resulting in such complications as toxin or fluid buildup, or internal bleeding, it is called decompensated cirrhosis. Cirrhosis produced by hepatitis C is presently the leading cause of liver cancer, and is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States.