Hepatitis Cis a viral infection affecting the liver due to the hepatitis C virus.
Thevirus is spreadthrough contact with the blood of someone who has it.
There is no vaccine available to prevent this illness.
PixelsEffect / Getty Images
However, there are treatment options available that can cure the infection.
Treatment for hepatitis C typically consists of antiviral drugs, usually a combination of two or three medications.
PixelsEffect / Getty Images
What Causes Anemia From Hepatitis C?
One of the main causes of anemia associated with hepatitis C is the medications used to treat the infection.
The antiviral medications themselves can sometimes affect how well the bone marrow is able to make red blood cells.
Hepatitis C infection can lead to anemia in other ways.
Another, more rare key in of anemia called hepatitis-associatedaplasticanemia, can result from hepatitis.
This is triggered by bone marrow failure and severely decreased blood counts as a result of the hepatitis infection.
HAAA can be life-threatening.
Recognizing the Symptoms
The symptoms of anemia, no matter the cause, are very similar.
Hemoglobin is the protein that carries oxygen in red blood cells.
A normal level of hemoglobin for men is 1417 grams per deciliter (g/dL).
The frequency at which these are ordered is up to the treating healthcare team.
They may want to do an evaluation of the CBC to check your hemoglobin levels.
One of the most important things to do is to avoid alcohol.
Alcohol can be stressful to the liver and make liver damage worse.
Anemia may also be due to more rare conditions such as hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia.
Report any symptoms of anemia to your healthcare provider.
Prompt recognition of anemia may decrease complications associated with treatment.
If anemia is too severe, adjustments to hepatitis treatment may be necessary.
Hepatitis does not reduce iron levels.
Hepatitis can, however, lead to elevated iron levels in the body.
Hepatitis can lower the red blood cell count.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Hepatitis C.
Infectious Diseases Society of America.Simplified HCV treatment algorithm for treatment-naive adults.
2020:S1658-3876(20)30168-0. doi:10.1016/j.hemonc.2020.10.001
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Blood tests.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.What should I eat and drink if I have hepatitis C?
ClinicalTrials.gov.Etiopathogenesis of anemia in chronic liver disease.
Zou DM, Sun WL.Relationship between hepatitis C virus infection and iron overload.Chin Med J (Engl).
