People who are older than 40 when they become infected may develop cirrhosis more quickly.

Men may develop cirrhosis more quickly than women.

He was a heavy drinker until he developed cirrhosis of the liver.

Infants who develop cirrhosis ultimately will need a liver transplant.

Other people - about 10% to 20% of those infected with the virus - develop cirrhosis after having the infection for 20 or 30 years.

But it's hard to predict which drinkers will develop cirrhosis.

Although many people carry the virus for decades without becoming sick, others develop cirrhosis, liver failure or cancer.

Patients under 35 and those who have not yet developed cirrhosis of the liver have the best response to interferon.

Doctors are three times more likely to develop cirrhosis of the liver than the general population.

Heavy drinkers typically have impaired liver function, and at least one in five develops cirrhosis.