Now that blood donations in the United States and Canada are screened for hepatitis C virus, we hear less about this contagious and potentially deadly disease than we used to, yet over three million North Americans are infected - and 70 per cent are unaware of their condition. Hepatitis C damages the liver - an organ that forms essential nutrients, balances our blood sugar and plays a critical role in removing toxins from the blood. As liver damage progresses, the whole body may be affected by fatigue, loss of appetite, and other symptoms. Severe cases may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and complete liver failure. Topics include: Diagnosing and staging Symptoms Treatments and side-effects Complementary therapies The future of Antiviral TherapyBIO:JENNY HEATHCOTE, MD, is a gastroenterologist specializing in liver disease at Toronto Western Hospital, and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. COLINA YIM and QUYNH THAI are registered nurses working with Dr. Heathcote. DR. AVERELL SHERKER is a staff hepatologist at Montreal's Jewish General Hospital.

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