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Guidelines for the Care and Treatment of Persons Diagnosed with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 Jul.

Glossary of Terms

New HCV infection

A new infection with HCV that may or may not be symptomatic

Acute HCV infection

A new infection with HCV that leads to acute symptoms

Anti-HCV antibody

Presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is a biomarker of past or present infection

Chronic HCV infection

Continued infection six months or more after acquiring HCV infection

Cirrhosis

Extensive liver scarring secondary to prolonged inflammation of the liver (F4 in the METAVIR scoring system)

Compensated cirrhosis

Cirrhosis usually without liver-related symptoms

Decompensated cirrhosis

Cirrhosis with the development of symptomatic complications, including ascites or variceal bleeding

GRADE

Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) is an approach used to assess the quality of a body of evidence, and to develop and report recommendations

Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)

Antibody to HBV core protein. Anti-HBc antibodies are non-neutralizing antibodies and are detected in both recent and chronic infection

HCV infection

Active replication of HCV in the body The biomarker of HCV infection is the presence of HCV RNA in the blood

Pangenotypic

Activity and effectiveness of antiviral medicine against all major HCV genotypes

Relapse

Undetectable HCV RNA in the blood at the end of treatment but detectable HCV RNA within 24 weeks of completing treatment

Spontaneous viral clearance

Clearance of HCV infection without treatment

Sustained virological response (12)

Undetectable HCV RNA in the blood 12 weeks after treatment completion. SVR 12 is considered equivalent to a cure for HCV infection

Viral breakthrough

Undetectable HCV RNA in the blood during treatment followed by detectable HCV RNA during treatment, which is not caused by a new HCV infection

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Bookshelf ID: NBK531735
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