Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus, or HCV.
Between 15 to 40 percent of people who get hepatitis C are able to fight off the virus during the early, or acute, stage, usually within six months. The majority of patients, however, cannot get rid of the virus and develop a long-term, or chronic, hepatitis C infection. People with chronic hepatitis C will have the disease all their lives unless they are successfully treated with antiviral medicines.
Chronic hepatitis C is a serious condition that damages the liver and can lead to potentially fatal liver diseases such as cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. One of the most common reasons for liver transplants is damage caused by hepatitis C infection.
More than four million Americans have been infected with hepatitis C, and it is responsible for 8,000-10,000 deaths annually.
The goal of Medical treatment for hepatitis C is to try and get rid of the virus. If the virus is cleared, the potential damage done to the liver is limited.
Physicians should talk with their patients about the option of starting treatment with antiviral medicines that may help get rid of the virus. The standard medicines for hepatitis C patients are called peginterferons and interferons. These two medicines are usually used together.
These drugs work for some, but not all, patients. Depending on the type of hepatitis C virus a patient has, the treatment has a 40% to 80% chance of getting rid of the virus. For people infected with the most common type of hepatitis C (genotype 1) in the United States, treatment is successful in 50% of cases. Studies show, however, that African Americans have a much lower success rate with combination treatment—only 28%.
These drugs have some potentially serious side effects. Most people being treated with interferon have flu-like symptoms early on. These side effects get better with time. Later side effects, however, may include tiredness, hair loss, low blood count, trouble with thinking, moodiness, and depression. Ribavirin can cause serious anemia, or low red blood cell count. In some patients, the side effects may be so serious that treatment must be stopped. Pregnant women should not be treated with these drugs at all.
It is important to discuss the pros and cons of hepatitis C treatment thoroughly with a doctor before beginning treatment. A patient’s doctor should also be notified about any side effects experienced during treatment.
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