Final answer:
True, HCV can lead to eventual liver failure. Chronic infection with HCV often goes undetected and can cause progressive liver damage, leading to cirrhosis and potentially liver failure or liver cancer over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement HCV can cause eventual liver failure is true. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. The virus can replicate in hepatocytes (liver cells), often without causing significant symptoms, which means individuals can be unaware they are infected. Without proper treatment, chronic HCV infection can lead to progressive liver damage over many years, potentially resulting in liver failure.
Chronic carriers of HCV are at risk of developing cirrhosis, where normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, affecting liver function. If the cirrhosis is severe, it can lead to liver failure, wherein the liver can no longer perform its critical functions effectively. Additionally, the chronic inflammation caused by the virus increases the risk of liver cancer. New medications have improved the treatment of HCV, which can prevent the virus from causing severe liver damage and improve the patient's outcome.