Delaying Hepatitis C Treatment Could Be Detrimental | Hepatitis Central

The latest research & treatment news about Hepatitis C infection, diagnosis, symptoms and treatment.

Menu Search
Previous

Phase III Trial Results for Ally-1 Reveal High HCV Cure Rates

Back to News Homepage
Next

Interferon Not Included: Say Goodbye to Hepatitis C

Delaying Hepatitis C Treatment Could Be Detrimental

The Editors at Hepatitis Central
May 6, 2015

Print this page

Analysis reveals that waiting for treatment shows greater risk for clinical events and death.
Pin it on Pinterest

Another study confirms detrimental effects of delaying hepatitis C treatment

by Liz Highleyman

Deferring antiviral therapy for hepatitis C until a person progresses to advanced liver disease has clear drawbacks including lower treatment effectiveness and an increased risk of clinical events and death, according to a study of US veterans presented at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 50th International Liver Congress last month, in Vienna, Austria.

Over years or decades, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can lead to serious liver disease including cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and need for a liver transplant. When the standard of care for hepatitis C was interferon-based therapy – with its long course of treatment, poor tolerability and only modest cure rate – experts generally recommended delaying treatment until a patient developed advanced disease.

Now that much more effective and well-tolerated interferon-free direct-acting antiviral therapy is available, a growing number of providers and advocates think everyone living with hepatitis C should be eligible for treatment. But treatment is still often limited to the sickest patients due to the high cost of the new drugs.

Continue reading this entire article:
www.aidsmap.com/Another-study-confirms-detrimental-effects-of-delaying-hepatitis-C-treatment/page/2965993/

No Comments - be the first!
Share
Share
Previous

Phase III Trial Results for Ally-1 Reveal High HCV Cure Rates

Back to News Homepage
Next

Interferon Not Included: Say Goodbye to Hepatitis C

Requirements for using and reposting articles

Comments

HepatitisCentral.com provides information regarding hepatitis and liver disease. Comments are available to the community in order to discuss these topics and obtain answers to questions through community members. The Editors at HepatitisCentral.com will not be responding to questions or comments posed in article comments.