About 1 in 4 hepatitis C (HCV)-infected persons have levels of liver disease that put them at the highest risk for complications and could benefit from immediate antiviral therapy, a recent study found. Researchers analyzed HCV-related testing from a large US commercial laboratory from January 2010 through December 2013. Tests included HCV antibody, HCV RNA, HCV genotype, liver function, and platelet counts; patient age was also determined. They found:

• Of the 2.5 million patients with data to estimate liver disease, 5% were currently infected.

• Among those infected, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB) scores indicated that 23% overall—and 27% among the cohort born during 1945 to 1965—had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis at first diagnosis.

• A total of 54% of infected were in care and 51% of infected with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis were evaluated for treatment.

Citation: Klevens RM, Canary L, Huang X, Denniston MM, et al. The burden of hepatitis C infection-related liver fibrosis in the United States. [Published online ahead of print August 9, 2016]. Clin Infect Dis. doi:10.1093/cid/ciw468.