Description
Almost all people with haemophilia who were exposed to clothing factor concentrate before 1985/8 were infected with HCV. About 20% of patients with chronic HCV may develop cirrhosis after a period 10-12 years of infection. Several co factors has seen progression: older age at infection; alcoholism; male sex; co-infection with HIV and co-infection with HBV. The genotypes of HCV found in people with haemophilia refrect the genotypes of N.Europe and America, genotypes 1,2 and 3. Genotype 1 is most commonly found. All patients with HIV were co-infected with HCV. Combination therapy with interferon & ribavirin has a cure rate of 30% and 60% for those infected with type 1 and non type 1 respectively. Liver transplantation has been performed in patients with haemophilia and results in cure of the haemophilia.
