Hepatitis C is a viral infection that can cause inflammation of the liver. The liver is one of the largest organs in our bodies. It’s located in the upper right portion of the abdomen below the lungs.
Your liver has several functions, which include:
- helping your body absorb nutrients from food
- storing vitamins and nutrients
- making and storing sugar for energy use
- removing harmful chemicals from your body
People with chronic hepatitis C can experience liver damage.
But liver damage from hepatitis C doesn’t happen immediately. It may occur over many years. Many people don’t know they have hepatitis C until they show signs of liver damage.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
- 75 to 85 people will develop chronic hepatitis C
- 10 to 20 people will develop cirrhosis, which can lead to liver failure or liver cancer, over a period of 20 to 30 years
Below, we’ll explore the potential complications of hepatitis C in greater detail. We’ll also discuss ways to treat and potentially prevent them.
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Over time, hard scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue in a process called fibrosis. The scar tissue can also block blood flow through the liver.
In addition to chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis can be caused by:
- heavy alcohol use
- chronic hepatitis B
- nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
- autoimmune hepatitis
- some drugs, medications, or harmful chemicals
- some inherited diseases
A liver that develops too much scar tissue won’t work properly. If cirrhosis isn’t managed, it can lead to liver failure.
Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C is the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States, according to the
It can take many years for liver damage from hepatitis C to lead to cirrhosis. People with cirrhosis may have no symptoms for many years. When they do develop, the symptoms of cirrhosis may include:
- fatigue
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- unexplained weight loss
- abdominal pain
- severe itching
- easy bruising
- darkening of the urine
- a yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- swelling of the abdomen or legs
- confusion or sleep disturbances
- bleeding issues
Liver failure happens when your liver stops working properly. Many times, liver failure occurs due to cirrhosis.
Liver damage that progresses over years, or even decades, is called chronic liver failure or end stage liver disease. People with chronic liver disease may require a liver transplant.
The early symptoms of liver failure include:
- fatigue
- nausea
- diarrhea
- loss of appetite
- unexplained weight loss
- abdominal pain
As liver failure progresses, its symptoms can get worse. Some symptoms of more advanced liver failure include:
- a yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice)
- extreme tiredness
- severe itching
- easy bruising
- darkening of the urine
- black stool
- vomiting blood
- bloating in the abdomen due to fluid buildup (ascites)
- swelling in your extremities (edema)
- forgetfulness or confusion
Cancer happens when cells in your body begin to grow out of control. Cancer can develop in many areas of the body, including the liver.
According to the CDC,
Both chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis are risk factors for liver cancer. People with HCV-related cirrhosis have a
In its earliest stages, liver cancer may not have any symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they’re very similar to those of liver failure.
Most hepatitis C complications stem from the liver, so keeping your liver healthy is especially important if you have hepatitis C. There are many things that you can do to help prevent complications, including the following:
- Take medications to cure HCV infection.
- Avoid drinking alcohol, as it can cause further liver damage.
- Get vaccinated against other types of viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
- Eat a well-balanced diet, but consider cutting back on salt intake, which can place stress on your liver and worsen swelling.
- Talk with your doctor before taking any new medications or supplements, including those that are available over the counter, as some may stress your liver.
- Continue making other healthy lifestyle choices like getting enough exercise, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Treatment for the complications of hepatitis C will initially focus on addressing the condition that’s causing it. In this case, that means ridding your body of the HCV infection.
Medications are available for chronic hepatitis C. Your doctor may prescribe you one or more of these medications.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), these medications cure chronic hepatitis C in 80 to 95 percent of people with this disease.
In cases of severe cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer, your doctor may recommend a liver transplant. During a liver transplant, doctors will remove your liver and replace it with a healthy one from a donor.
Liver cancer can also be treated using methods developed to destroy cancer cells. Examples include radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Hepatitis C can cause a variety of potentially serious complications. These can include things like cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
Talk with your doctor if you notice symptoms of a potential liver complication related to hepatitis C. Some examples include fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
Hepatitis C can be cured in most people through the use of medications. Getting treated early can help to prevent further liver damage and complications.