I recieved plasma in 1979- should i be concerned about Hep C?

Answer 1

Yes be very concerned. You may not have symptoms. Many people never have symptoms. You may have no symptoms until you have advanced liver disease. You are in a high risk group.

Answer 2

first of all, let me clarify a few points of interest:
1. EVERYONE should be tested for HCV antibodies because everyone has at least one possible risk factor!
2. HCV does not come without side effects, however, everyone responds differently to disease than others. HCV was thought of once to be "a-symptomatic", but the more heppers that complain, the more they find out about all the extrahepatic diseases (bi-directional diseases) from having hcv. Most doctors are unaware it is hcv, so they treat actual symptoms instead of the cause of the symptoms.
3. ALT and AST levels are NOT a good indicator something is wrong with the liver-hcv infected persons sometimes do not have elevations in this specific test yet they have hcv. If a doctor only orders a liver panel, he's not being thourough-that is why i stated in number 1 about antibody testing.

I would say in your case you should be tested specifically! You have a PROVEN point of interest to think you might be hcv infected.

Ask your doctor and remember to explain that a normal liver panel will not be indicative of HCV itself due to the fact that alt and ast levels aren't always elevated in chronic hcv infection.

Answer 3

You'd probably have noticed symptoms by now. But if it's bothering you, go get the blood test done. If nothing else it would set your mind at ease.

Answer 4

Have you had any symptoms in the past 30 years? That's a lot of time to rack up symptoms. If not, no, you don;t have hepatitis.