Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver but can be found throughout the body. In the liver, the body’s response potentially leads to inflammation and scarring. Scarring can progress over years to become cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a term that denotes a certain stage of scarring. Cirrhosis can be there without symptoms. Cirrhosis usually progresses to cause further problems and may necessitate liver transplant to be life-prolonging.

It is sufficiently common – affecting approximately 3% of the US population – that the CDC has issued guidelines asking that it be screened for routinely in the baby-boomer population. This can be done with a simple test, looking for HCV antibodies. This test, if positive, requires further confirmatory testing. Most HCV infection appears to become chronic (long-standing) and, as such, warrants treatment with one of the many available anti-viral options.

As always, a thoughtful history and physical exam by a gastroenterologist go a long way to determine what is going on. Tests to determine what is going on may include blood tests, ultrasound or CT scans, liver biopsy and EGD to screen for varices, a complication of cirrhosis if this is suspected.

Based in the heart of Uptown and the Garden District of New Orleans, Dr. Huilgol (”Dr. Viv”) – a member of the AASLD (the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases) – and the team at NOLA Gastro is committed to working with you to investigate what is going on, so you can make the correct choices for you.

Dr. Huilgol works closely with the leading liver transplant program in the USA.

GI and Liver health matters. Let’s work it out together.

Call 504-249-5901 and make an appointment…