[Hepatitis C in Scandinavia]

The Nordic countries constitute a low hepatitis C prevalence area, only 0.05-0.30 percent of new blood donors are being found to be seropositive. However, hepatitis C is very common among such risk groups as intravenous drug abusers and patients with bleeding disorders. Though normally mild in the acute phase, hepatitis C usually results in a permanent carrier state and often in chronic asymptomatic liver inflammation, even liver cirrhosis in some cases. Therapeutic guidelines are still in the process of development, and intensive studies of alpha-interferon and oral tribavirin are in progress also in the Nordic countries.