Progression of hepatitis C to cirrhosis according to baseline inflammation on initial liver biopsy

In this study of 70 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection, those with mild inflammation (portal inflammation alone or with only focal periportal extension) and no fibrosis on the initial liver biopsy had only a 1.2 percent annual risk of progressing to cirrhosis (blue line). In comparison, patients with moderate chronic hepatitis (periportal inflammation usually involving more than 30 percent of the limiting plate) had a 4.6 percent annual risk of developing cirrhosis (green line), and those with severe inflammation or bridging fibrosis had a high risk of progression (red line); nearly all in the last group developed cirrhosis within ten years.