Changes in hepatitis C-related liver disease in a large clinic population

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant problem in the Australian community. Over the past few years, the number of patients with diagnosed hepatitis C has increased greatly. The aims of the present study were to define the clinical features of a large group of patients with chronic HCV infection and to examine changes occurring in the referral base and epidemiological characteristics of this group since analysis of the first 342 patients in 1994. Methods: The study included 1546 consecutive anti-HCV-positive patients who had been referred to St Vincent's Hospital from January 1990 to June 1998. Clinical and laboratory data were collected on all patients. Results: Refe..