Mechanisms of hepatic toxicity. IV. Pathogenetic mechanisms involved in hepatitis C virus-inducedliver diseases
Lau, J.Y.
American Journal of Physiology 275(6): G1217-G1220
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9513 PMID: 9843755 Document Number: 497052
The pathogenetic mechanisms for liver damage in acute hepatitis C are not clear, but a host immune cellular response may be involved. In chronic hepatitis C, there is strong evidence that host cellular immune response is involved in the control of viral replication and contributes to hepatocellular damage. As hepatitis C virus infection persists, continuous liver damage and regeneration, together with enhanced fibrogenesis, may eventually lead to cirrhosis in a proportion of patients. Transplant patients on high-dose immunosuppression may have high-level intrahepatic hepatitis C viral expression, and, in this setting, the virus may induce direct cytopathic liver damage. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.