STD HEPATITIS C: TREATMENT

by admin on March 27th, 2009. Filed under Men's Health-Erectile Dysfunction

Many studies are currently under way to find effective treatments for hepatitis C. Alpha-interferon is the medication we know most about when it comes to treating hepatitis C. Alpha-interferon is a protein normally made by cells of the body’s immune system in response to viruses. It has shown some limited success in the treatment of hepatitis C, but whether the patient’s

improvement will last is not yet known. Liver function in 40-50 percent of people with chronic hepatitis C infection who are treated with interferon returns to normal. The hepatitis C virus becomes undetectable in their bloodstream, usually eight to twelve weeks after treatment. Often, however, this improvement is not permanent. Only about 15-25 percent of those treated exhibit permanent loss of the virus.

Two possible reasons for this low success rate are, first, that the virus mutates into new forms that are more resistant to interferon, and, second, that the vims produces antibodies to interferon that render the medication ineffective. (The latter scenario has been documented in hemophiliacs who have hepatitis C and are treated with interferon.) In addition, therapy with alpha-interferon can cause significant side effects, such as fever, chills, and muscle aches,- therefore the decision regarding whether 01 not to try this treatment is an individual one. The people who seem to respond better to treatment with alpha-interferon are those who do not show evidence of cirrhosis on biopsy of liver tissue, have normal to mildly elevated liver function tests, and demonstrate a low concentration of virus on the PCR test.

Treatment response also depends on what type of hepatitis C a person has. Type lb, one of the most common types, appears to be less responsive to interferon than types 2 and 3. The decision regarding whether or not to treat is best made in consultation with a hepatolo-gist who is up to date on recent advances in this field. There is some hope that even if the interferon does not cure the infection, it may decrease the risk of developing cancer of the liver.

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