Hepatitis C

Overview

At Mayo Clinic, people with hepatitis C receive care from a dedicated team of liver specialists (hepatologists) and advanced practice nurses, who provide comprehensive support during and after treatment. This team approach is essential for successful treatment and is available to patients regardless of how far they may live from a Mayo Clinic location. After an initial evaluation, Mayo physicians work with your local doctor to set up an individualized treatment program for you. This program offers the same level of care you would receive at Mayo Clinic and is closely supervised by a Mayo hepatologist.

For people with advanced liver disease, liver cancer or other serious conditions related to hepatitis C infection, Mayo offers the experience and expertise of medical and radiation oncologists, interventional radiologists, and surgeons dedicated solely to liver surgery and transplantation.

Diagnosis

The goal in managing hepatitis C is to diagnose and successfully eliminate or slow the infection before it causes irreversible liver damage. Mayo physicians use blood tests to detect the hepatitis C virus and determine its genetic makeup. They also use magnetic resonance elastography, a noninvasive alternative to liver biopsy developed at Mayo Clinic, to learn about the overall health of your liver and measure the amount of scarring that may have occurred. Read more about diagnosis of hepatitis C at Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

Mayo Clinic physicians successfully treat hepatitis C by combining aggressive therapy with a high level of supportive care. Patients with advanced liver disease or liver cancer benefit from Mayo's wide range of innovative cancer treatments and renowned liver transplant program. Learn more about treatment for hepatitis C.

Treating Children

Children and infants can become infected with the hepatitis C virus, although the infection often isn't as severe as it is in adults. At Mayo Clinic, young patients receive individualized and supportive care from pediatric hepatologists, nutritionists, advanced practice nurses and, if necessary, pediatric surgeons.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked No. 1 in Digestive Disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.

• Treatment in Arizona
• Treatment in Florida
• Treatment in Minnesota
• Treatment of Children & Adolescents

About Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is one of six known viruses that primarily affect the liver. Hepatitis C is among the most serious of the hepatitis viruses and over time, can cause damage to your liver. Most people who have hepatitis C have no symptoms and don't know they're infected until liver damage shows up, decades later, during routine medical tests. Read more about hepatitis C.