An acute HCV infection can manifest as a viral syndrome (hardly visible) or, more rarely, as jaundice, but in most cases it goes unnoticed. Note that the presence of jaundice is associated with a higher probability of spontaneous HCV clearance (50%).

A hépatite C chronique est asymptomatique dans la plupart des cas. La manifestation principale est la fatigue. Dans de rares cas, on observe d’autres manifestations extra- hépatiques :

• Rhumatological: arthralgia, arthritis, myalgia;
• Renal: chronic renal insufficiency, glomerular involvement;
• Endocrine: insulin-resistance, type 2 diabetes;
• Cardiovascular: increased cardiovascular mortality, increased cerebral and cardiovascular events;
• Oncological: hepatocarcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma;
• Dermatological: purpura rash, Raynaud’s disease, cutaneous vasculitis, pruritus.1

At advanced stages, there can be signs of decompensation associated with cirrhosis such as ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice or even gastrointestinal bleeding caused by ruptured esophageal varices.

Hepatitis C is most often diagnosed by targeted screening based on risk factors or by chance discovery. Most hepatic diseases don’t display major symptoms before the decompensated cirrhosis stage.