Overall sustained virologic response, a marker for a cure, was achieved in 96% of patients with genotype 1b strain of the virus after 12 weeks of Zepatier. In patients infected with genotype 4 of the virus, 94% were cured after 12 weeks of Zepatier treatment.
The regulator placed a clinical hold on human trials involving a new investigational hepatitis C drug that targets microRNA following a report of jaundice by someone enrolled in a study.
Researchers in Italy found that some patients who are successfully treated for the hepatitis C virus tend to live as long as others in the general population not infected with the disease.
Researchers assessed the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma among patients who have been cured of the hepatitis C virus.
Nurse practitioners with three hours training were better than specialists or primary care providers at getting HCV patients to complete their DAA regimens, Washington, DC area researchers found.
A recent study in the United Kingdom looked at the 6-month outcomes of those with hepatitis C cirrhosis on antiviral treatment.
Work being done to treat and cure hepatitis C today could make it almost a non-issue for future generations, thanks to groups like the World Health Organization (WHO) and others putting the focus on parts of the world that need help in this area the most.
The field of gastroenterology is as wide as the the amount of the body that it covers. Because of this there are certain challenges doctors face whether they treat the entire gastrointestinal system or just specific parts.
Tattoo aficionados who appreciate the creative license behind professional inking can now take solace in the potential health benefits of tattoos.
The European Commission has approved expanded use of a Bristol-Myers Squibb hepatitis C drug to include patient populations with decompensated cirrhosis, HIV-1 coinfection and post-liver transplant recurrence of the virus.
A multi-study analysis shows that a majority of patients with hepatitis C maintained sustained virological response five years after they were treated but researchers found higher risk of reinfection among patients in two subgroups.
It was not long ago that patients with hepatitis C were among the leading candidates for liver transplants. Now that many forms of the disease are curable that attention can be turned to other patients in need.
A US Senate investigation found that drug maker Gilead Sciences sought to maximize profits of its blockbuster hepatitis C drug, without any significant consideration of the thousands of patients who could not afford its pricey pill.
Hepatologists around the world are seeing an influx of patients with various liver conditions including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Finding ways to treat these patients has become a growing area of the field. These issues are the same whether doctors are treating military patients or those in civilian practice alike.
When treating liver disease every advantage can help doctors get their patients the care they need before the condition progresses further. A recent study looked at the potential of developing a scoring system to look at risks for this patient population.
Researchers have developed a method to screen for hepatitis C using a urine test that is faster and cheaper than traditional blood tests.
In the past patients with alcoholic liver disease may not have been considered viable options for liver transplants. A recent study looked at whether an artificial device could help these patients return to a normal quality of life.
When teenage boys in Sweden were required to take part in the conscription process for the country's armed forces only a small percentage were considered overweight or obese. As a result researchers were able to make a connection between those patients and those who developed serious liver disease later in life.
A considerable amount of research has been done looking at how liver disease can progress in patients, but a recent study looked at possible regression in conditions like cirrhosis and fibrosis.
Although there are now effective treatments for several genotypes of hepatitis C, certain patient groups continue to present challenges for the pharmaceutical and medical communities. Work is being done to overcome those challenges around the world.
The high costs of direct-acting antivirals to treat hepatitis C infection is no secret, but neither is the fact that the drugs are cost-effective. Pennsylvania researchers found insurers were lagging in approving payment for the drugs in their four-state region, with Medicaid programs the worst offenders.
Researchers say that identifying HCV transmission hotspots and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of exactly how hepatitis C virus is transmitted during times of significant spread could facilitate public health initiatives to reduce the prevalence of HCV in people who contract it through intravenous drug use.
AbbVie's hepatitis C antivirals now come with a warning. In a Q&A with MD Magazine, Barry Bernstein, MD, the company's vice president for infectious disease product development, discusses the ramifications. It's not just AbbVie, he says, more post-market reports on other companies drugs are likely coming.
More than three-quarters of intravenous drug users and Baby Boomers tested for hepatitis C were positive and unaware they were infected, according to results of a study published in the journal Annals of Emergency Medicine.
While alternative and complimentary medicine make their way closer to the mainstream there are still some areas of concern with using them while treating hepatitis C. There have also been questions raised about the costs associated with using new medications to treat the disease.
