Decreased circulating vitamin D reflects adverse outcomes of hepatitis C virus infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of severe liver complications including fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatic failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)1, which is becoming a public health problem worldwide. Currently, despite availability of effective antiviral treatment for HCV infection, an unexplained variability in HCV treatment outcomes still remains2,3. With the development of cirrhosis and its complications, the progressive liver fibrosis has been recognized as the cornerstone event in HCV-infected patients4, leading to treatment failure and ultimately to end-stage liver disease.
Source: Journal of Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Source Type: research