Function of monocytes in chronic HCV infection: Role for IL-10 and interferon Liu, B. 2011-11-16 Doctoral Thesis

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) establishes persistent infection in about 80% of the infected individuals. The symptoms are initially mild in those persistently infected patients, and it may take decades before the serious consequences of chronic HCV infection become apparent. Up to 20% of infected individuals may develop complications, including cirrhosis, liver failure, or hepatocellular carcinoma [3]. HCV infection is now the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States and Europe.
http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/26876/Thesis_Cover_BishengLiu.pdf