What organ system must be monitored closely when a patient is on antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C?

Monitoring liver function is essential when a patient is undergoing antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C for several reasons. Hepatitis C primarily affects the liver, leading to potential complications such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Antiviral medications used in treating Hepatitis C can place additional stress on the liver, and their metabolism primarily occurs in hepatic cells.

As the liver is the organ responsible for metabolizing these drugs, changes in liver function due to the disease or the treatment could affect the efficacy and safety of the therapy. Regular liver function tests help assess how well the liver is processing the medication and can detect any adverse reactions or worsening of liver disease. Close monitoring allows healthcare providers to adjust treatment as necessary to minimize risks and to evaluate the treatment’s effectiveness in clearing the virus.

While the other organ systems—like the cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory systems—are important in a holistic assessment of a patient's health, they are not directly impacted to the same extent as liver function when it comes to antiviral therapy specifically for Hepatitis C. Therefore, liver function monitoring is crucial in this context.