Hepatitis C Management

Ask The Experts

Question:

A biopsy diagnosed a patient’s liver to be in stage 4 from hepatitis C and alcohol consumption. What is the prognosis for this patient?

Stage 4 indicates cirrhosis. This patient must stop drinking to prevent synergistic detrimental effects on the liver. The prognosis for well-compensated cirrhosis (in the absence of alcohol) remains quite good. It has been estimated that over a 10-year period, only one out of five patients presenting with well-compensated cirrhosis will develop complications. However, once hepatic complications occur, survival is greatly diminished. Patients should be referred for evaluation for liver transplantation when there is evidence of progressive liver disease.

For more information, see the section on hepatitis C in patients with cirrhosis in the Hepatitis C Management monograph.