CHRONIC PERSISTANT OR CHRONIC ACTIVE -WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?
Hepatitis C is considered to be “chronic” if it has persisted for longer than 6 months. The term “Chronic Persistent” used to be used to define hepatitis which persisted for longer than 6 months, but which was not currently causing active damage to the liver. The term “Chronic Active” was used to define hepatitis which persisted for longer than 6 months, and which was actively destroying the liver. The differentiation between “persistant” and “active” is not commonly used any more, with the assumption being that if the virus exists, it is causing damage whether it is moving quickly or not. About 85 percent of HCV-infected individuals fail to clear the virus by 6 months and develop chronic hepatitis with persistent, although sometimes intermittent viremia. This capacity to produce chronic hepatitis is one of the most striking features of HCV infection. The majority of patients with chronic infection have abnormalities in ALT levels that can fluctuate widely. About one-third of HCV patie
