If you have hepatitis C, doctors can gauge the level of liver damage you’ve experienced. One useful diagnostic tool is called a hepatic function panel. It involves a group of blood tests performed together that examine the levels of certain liver enzymes, bilirubin (a fluid the body produces when red blood cells break down), and proteins circulating in the blood.
Higher-than-normal levels of the liver enzymes, indicate that your liver is damaged. Albumin may be low, and your total bilirubin levels may also be elevated.
Along with the hepatic function panel, your doctor may also order a few other tests. One test determines the levels of the liver enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase in your blood. An international normalized ratio measures how well your blood clots. Plus, a complete blood count.
Liver biopsies are rare for HCV infection, but they may be considered if there’s concern for a different underlying cause of liver disease. This procedure involves removing a small liver tissue sample and can provide more details about the amount of scarring and damage HCV has caused.
Your doctor may also order an imaging test, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound. This helps check for liver cancer, a possible complication of hepatitis C. HIV and Hepatitis B testing are also recommended.
Various imaging tests and liver biopsies are also used to determine if you have cirrhosis. Transient elastography is an imaging modality that maps the elastic properties and stiffness of the liver. It’s a noninvasive method for assessing liver fibrosis, the first stage of liver scarring. Cirrhosis develops when the scarring becomes widespread.
For people with liver failure from HCV-related cirrhosis, a liver transplant may be the only real treatment option. Those who have liver cirrhosis are at increased risk of developing liver cancer. Chemotherapy, hepatectomy (removing diseased parts of the liver), or liver transplant may be recommended depending on the cancer stage and patient’s performance status.
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