“Can a person's body fight off hepatitis c?”

Yes, about half of people who test positive for anti-HCV positive (that is the hepatitis C antibody), do not have a current chronic infection. They may have experienced spontaneous clearance after acute infection. Only those with a current infection with a positive HCV RNA which measures the actual viral load, will need treatment. Factors that are predictive of clearance of HCV include having jaundice- (turning yellow), elevated ALT (a liver test), younger age, being female; being infected with HCV genotype 1; and other specifics that are related to genetics.

Thanks for the question. At least 50% of infected people have an acute infection, then completely recover.

Several people can cure themselves naturally but many are not able to do this. Medical science can not reliably tell the lucky ones from those whose liver disease will persist and progress.

Carl Lauter MD, MACP, FAAAAI, FIDSA
Section Head, Section of Allergy and Immunology
Member, Section of Infectious Diseases
Professor, OUWB School of Medicine
William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak
3535 West 13 Mile, Suite 605
Royal Oak, Michigan 48073
Mobile 2488912451
Patient Office 2485510495
Fax 2485517268
Carl.lauter@beaumont.edu

Yes, it often does

G dickinson