Part One: Information for Everyone with Hepatitis C

These chapters contain information for all people affected by chronic hepatitis C. The authors consider this information very important for anyone with chronic hepatitis C regardless of your treatment goals.

Part Two: Hepatitis C Treatment and Management Approaches

These chapters cover treatment options for chronic hepatitis C. The chapters are arranged alphabetically by treatment approach. Each chapter presents the author's view of the disease, and its treatment and/or management.

Some treatment options have been evaluated in clinical trials or other research studies to determine their effectiveness. We have included information about the evidence to support the use of a given treatment if available. Some of this information comes from health care providers' experience (anecdotal evidence), and some comes from formal studies such as controlled clinical trials.

Part Three: Other Topics for People with Hepatitis C

This part of the book covers topics of concern to specific populations affected by chronic hepatitis C, and other special issues of interest to people with HCV.

We have included a number of other important documents at the back of the book, including:

a matrix showing management options for chronic hepatitis C

appendices containing additional information about topics covered in the chapters

a Resource Directory for people living with chronic hepatitis C

a list of references compiled from the individual chapters

You may find some medical words in the book that are new to you. These words are italicized. The definitions of these words are in the Glossary at the back of the book. Becoming familiar with these words will help you better understand hepatitis C. It might also help you communicate more easily with your health care providers. Foreign words also appear in italics. These words are explained in the text but do not appear in the Glossary.