How Does Hcv Cause Cirrhosis

The pathogenesis of how HCV can cause cirrhosis and HCC is not well understood. It has been suggested that the immune response, especially cytotoxic T cell responses against HCV-infected hepatocytes, is the main cause of liver cell injury, fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually HCC. Many cytokines such as interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha released from activated lymphocytes may play important roles in the pathogenesis of liver injury associated with chronic HCV infection (CHC).( Huang L and Koziel MJ,2000).

The risk of HCC increased up to 17-fold among HCV-infected patients compared with anti-HCV negative controls. HCC cases due to HCV infection usually occur in older persons and nearly all cases are associated with advanced hepatic