Viral Hepatitis C - Consumer Resources: Chronic Condition Library: Hepatitis C

Consumer Resources: Chronic Condition Library: Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C. Introduction. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease in the United States. ... have accompanying chronic liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C varies greatly in its course and outcome ... 20 percent of patients with chronic hepatitis C develop cirrhosis, a process ...

Hospital Practice: Chronic Hepatitis C: Early Intervention
Chronic Hepatitis C: Early Intervention. RAYMOND S. KOFF. University of Massachusetts ... Chronic hepatitis C infection is the most common liver disease in the United States; it accounts for up to 12,000 deaths ...

Hepatitis C
... other causes of chronic liver disease, especially chronic hepatitis C. To date, there are no data ... long-term pathological evolution of chronic hepatitis C. Hepatology 1996;23:1334 ...

WHO | Hepatitis C
... available to prevent hepatitis C and treatment for chronic hepatitis C is too costly for most persons in ... the treatment of persons with chronic hepatitis C, but the cost of ...

Viral Hepatitis C - Hep C Patent Case Resolved

Hep C Patent Case Resolved
Red Herring, CA - Feb 10, 2006Belgian biopharmaceutical company Innogenetics has settled a patent lawsuit with Third Wave Technologies over a hepatitis C testing kit, with Third Wave ...

Hepatitis C case - Transparency vital in the blood service
Irish Examiner, Ireland - Jan 29, 2006... In the current controversy, the IBTS suggests Ms Kelly may have been exposed to hep C infection during obstetrical and surgical treatments in the US, where she ...

Blood banks reflect an increase in infections
Ludhiana Newsline, India - Feb 15, 2006... In their study, Dr Amarjit and Dr Ajit Sood have found that 1.29 lakh donors suffered from Hep C, a figure which is higher than the prevalence in Chandigarh ...

Hepatitis C - silent epidemic
Thunder Bay's Source, Canada - Feb 23, 2006... in attendance. The most common way to contract Hep C is through blood, and is often related to the sharing of needles. However thousands ...

Blood scandal trial delayed to next week
Toronto Sun, Canada - Feb 14, 2006... "People die while we're on a delay.". James Kreppner, who also has hep C and HIV, said after 20 years it's time some evidence was heard in court. ...

Viral Hepatitis C - A Summary of Chronic Hepatitis C InfectionHepatitis C

A Summary of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Hepatitis C is a stealthy virus that mutates while hiding in liver cells and other organ cells like the spleen and gall bladder. The fact that the viral cells "hide" makes it very difficult for the body's immune system to eradicate it. Hepatitis C is a slowly progressing disease sometimes taking many years until symptoms are noticeable. It is at this point that the virus has reached advanced chronic stage and becomes difficult to eradicate. Hepatitis C results in 8,000 to 10,000 deaths annually. Hepatitis C is also the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S.

Hepatitis C infection is caused by blood contact with someone who has the virus infection himself. The transmission of the virus can occur by illicit drug use with needles, sharing toothbrushes or razors with an infected person, by sexual means, by unsanitary tattooing or by exposure to blood at your workplace (like a hospital or blood bank). Some HCV infection may have been caused by receiving blood from a transfusion prior to 1992.

Hepatitis C is diagnosed via a blood test. Usually, the first thing that is noticed is that the liver enzyme levels for ALT and AST are elevated well above normal levels. Further investigation via HCV-RNA testing identifies whether the Hepatitis C virus is in your blood or not. Other tests for HCV include qualitative viral load tests, which measure the RNA particles in your blood. If you are being treated for HCV, your doctor is probably using either a HCV-RNA or viral load test to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

The symptoms of Hepatitis C infection often do not occur in a person until 20 years after he/she had been infected. Since the HCV infects the liver and the liver is the organ in the body that makes all the energy for our daily activities possible, liver function deterioration often results in fatigue. Fatigue is the primary complaint or symptom of HCV infection. Other more severe symptoms are jaundice (yellowing of the skin/eyes), bile retention (which can cause jaundice), portal vein hypertension, skin rashes and itching, and autoimmune problems resulting from your body's immune system attacking normal cells.

Long term HCV infection may result in fibrosis or even cirrhosis of the liver. Fibrosis results from unchecked liver inflammation. As the HCV infection progresses, the damage to the liver results in scarring or hardening of the liver cells (fibrosis). Long term fibrosis may lead to cirrhosis which is when the scarring from fibrosis overtakes the normal liver cell structure causing deformity and loss of function in the liver. About 15%-20% of HCV patients end up with cirrhosis. A liver biopsy is currently the most accurate means of determining the amount of inflammation and fibrosis the liver has sustained.

Hepatitis C progression in the body can take several years or even decades to come to chronic stage or to a stage where severe liver damage is evident. This period of time allows a person to determine how to properly treat the disease and to decide on a course of disease management. Currently, the main treatment for HCV infection to eradicate the virus is combo alpha-interferon and Ribavirin. Sometimes a doctor may prescribe interferon alone. Interferon comes in standard form or in pegylated form. Standard form interferon is administered 3 times per week, while the pegylated form is administered only once per week. Your body makes its own interferon, which is a protein that fights viral infection and viral replication.

Hepatitis C may often be managed by taking herbal and vitamin supplements that help your body fight infection and limit inflammation. These supplements help your liver with the inflammation and give it the nutrients it needs to regenerate healthy new cells. Your doctor can recommend alternative or adjunct solutions you may want to try.

Proper treatment of the disease, a healthy and active lifestyle, a good diet, abstinence from alcohol and stress management are important factors in controlling Hepatitis C progression.

About the Author

Greg Lietz is a freelance writer and internet businessman. His main website is http://www.theonlinebizplace.com where he provides content about internet based business opportunities and different niche interests. This article may be freely printed when the bio information is included.

Viral Hepatitis C - What is Hepatitis C?(NC)-Hepatitis C is an infectious

What is Hepatitis C?

(NC)-Hepatitis C is an infectious virus that is carried in the blood and harms the liver. About 240,000 Canadians are infected, many of whom are unaware that they even have it. The number of people with hepatitis C is increasing in Canada and around the world, primarily among those who share needles and other drug equipment. An estimated 5,000 Canadians - mostly young people - get this virus each year. p>

Although the hepatitis C virus has been around for a long time, it was only identified in 1989. It causes inflammation of the liver, which often progresses to cirrhosis (scarring that makes it difficult for the liver to function normally). Of the estimated 5,000 people that are newly infected each year, up to 70 percent experience no symptoms. For some, symptoms may not show up for 20 or 30 years. In the meantime, they may, unknowingly, be infecting others. That is why it is important to know if you are at risk and how to take preventative action.

If you think you have hepatitis C, or that you may be at risk, visit your doctor and ask for the simple blood test for this disease. For more information, contact a health care professional, and visit Health Canada's Web site at www.healthcanada.ca/hepc.

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Viral Hepatitis C - CME Questions

CME Questions
AAP Grand Rounds (subscription) - Feb 9, 2006... completion: Describe the efficacy of interferon alpha-2b in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in children. ...

Migenix: infectious ambitions in hepatitis
Pharmaceutical Business Review - Jan 25, 2006... fierce. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is currently managed through pegylated interferon and ribavirin combination therapy. ...

My dad was dying and we never knew
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK - Jan 26, 2006... But Dr Helen Harris, the HPA's hepatitis C expert, said: Most individuals with chronic hepatitis C can be successfully treated, but the success of treatment ...

Help Hickey as he Runs for Research and ALF
Hingham Journal, MA - Feb 9, 2006... hepatitis being the most common. Four million Americans have chronic hepatitis C and most do not know it. Inheritable liver diseases are ...

Coley Pharmaceutical Group Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year ...
MSN Money - 6 hours ago... is being evaluated alone and in combinations with drugs which comprise the current standard of care for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis C infection in ...

Viral Hepatitis C - Vitamins Suggested During Combination Therapy

Vitamins Suggested During Combination Therapy
A Japanese research study demonstrates benefits of Vitamin E and C supplementation during combination therapy. These vitamins appear to protect cells from damage typically incurred from conventional Hepatitis C therapy....

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Title: Primary Biliary CirrhosisCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 12/31/1997Last Editorial Review: 9/17/2005

Indenix is Nearing Phase III for Valopicitabine
It is always good to see progress with alternatives to current medical therapy for HCV. Even though companies that are working on solutions to be used with interferon are not really offering anything groundbreaking or revolutionary, it does continue the...

A Good AASLD Meeting Summary
This is a terrific overview article regarding the AASLD meeting. Liz Highleyman did a fantastic job of condensing the key aspects and announcements. One of the most interesting updates/corrections of known information is the upward measurement of the number of...

GlobeImmune Recruiting for Clinical Trial
While GlobeImmune's therapeutic vaccine for Hepatitis C is only in Phase Ib of clinical trials, their focus on immunity to the Hepatitis C virus is fascinating. GI-5005 is based on tarmogens being potent activators of antigen-specific immune responses against disease....

Shorter Therapy Effective for Genotypes 2 and 3
Genotypes 2 and 3 are much more responsive to current interferon combination therapies. This report details studies that show a shorter course of treatment might be just as effective as longer courses. Researchers continue to refine treatment protocols for HCV...

Viral Hepatitis C - VX-950 To Get Fast Tracked

VX-950 To Get Fast Tracked
As you may recall we've been saying VX-950 is the revolutionary new therapy to watch for HCV. Now it looks like the FDA agrees this treatment is quite promising and deserving of faster approval than a lesser worthy approach. Another...

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Title: Primary Biliary CirrhosisCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 12/31/1997Last Editorial Review: 9/17/2005

Hepatitis B
Title: Hepatitis BCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 1/26/2001 11:58:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 9/21/2005

Feedster
No Need to Click Here - I'm just claiming my feed at Feedster....

MedMira Rapid Test
The start of the New Year was accompanied by the European Patent Office granting a patent for a rapid HCV test. Now that the technology is here, let's hope the test proves accurate, with high levels of selectivity and specificity....

Viral Hepatitis C - Infection and Communicable Disease Services: Hepatitis C

Infection and Communicable Disease Services: Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C infection (also known as Hep C or HCV) is one such virus that can cause ... Hepatitis C infection affects different people in different ways; ...

Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Cocaine Users: A Silent Epidemic
The presence of Hepatitis C infection in cocaine users who thought they were healthy suggests a silent epidemic in an unsuspecting population.

Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C. By Howard J. Worman, MD. NEW: The Hepatitis C Sourcebook. By Howard J. Worman, MD. The Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) ...

Viral Hepatitis C - ZymoGenetics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2005 Financial ...

ZymoGenetics Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2005 Financial ...
International News Service, Australia - Feb 9, 2006... Other -- The company decided to advance Interleukin-29 (IL-29) into clinical development as a potential treatment for Hepatitis C infection. ...

Schering-Plough drug gets fast track
BusinessWeek - Jan 30, 2006... The drug, known as SCH 503034, is an oral therapy in mid-stage human studies testing it as a treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection. ...

COMUNICADO: GlaxoSmithKline Announces Commencement of Eltrombopag ...
Europa Press, Spain - Feb 14, 2006... It can prevent cancer patients from receiving their full dose of chemotherapy, prevent patients with hepatitis C infection from receiving interferon therapy or ...

My dad was dying and we never knew
Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, UK - Jan 26, 2006... This include raising awareness of groups that may have been at past risk of hepatitis C infection including recipients of blood transfusion before donor ...

Viral Hepatitis C - Viral Hepatitis

Viral Hepatitis
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Lamivudine does not increase the efficacy of interferon in the
Wed, 23 Oct 2002 07:45:06 -0400 From : hbv_research-list-owners@mail-list.com Subject : Lamivudine does not increase the efficacy of interferon in the treatment of mutant type chronic viral heaptitis B

Nurses and Hepatitis C
Officers Coinfection HIV & Viral Heaptitis: a guide December 2003 Third Edition Produced in Association with the Australian Liver Association, Gastroenterological Society of Australia

Hepatitis C Infection: hbv_research
hbv_research of interferon in the treatment of mutant type chronic viral heaptitis B. 23-Oct-2002 Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B Virus ILAR Journal Online, Volume 42(2) 2001

Viral Hepatitis C - Biotech's Small Caps Have Stellar January

Biotech's Small Caps Have Stellar January
[Press Release] CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 01 9:25 AM
While 2005 was the year of biotech's "blue chip" companies, the New Year has been ushered in by the excellent performance of small- and mid-cap biotech companies. Small-capitalization biotech stocks outperformed their large-cap counterparts and set records.Save to My Web

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Reports 2005 Financial Results
[Press Release] PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 07 1:02 PM
Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today reported consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2005.Save to My Web

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation To Oral HCV Protease Inhibitor SCH 503034, Schering-Plough Reports
Medical News Today - Jan 30 4:21 PM
Schering-Plough today reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor (SCH 503034), currently in Phase II clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The FDA granted Fast Track designation for the following reasons: The proposed first indication for SCH Save to My Web

Roth Capital Partners 18th Annual Growth Stock Conference Presenter Profiles
RedNova - Feb 17 2:53 PM
Roth Capital Partners 18th Annual Growth Stock Conference takes place Feb. 20-22 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa in Dana Point, Calif. For in-depth information about the event visit http://www.rothcp.com/index06%20DP.html.Save to My Web

Transition Therapeutics Increases Ownership Stake in Ellipsis Neurotherapeutics Inc.
[Press Release] CNW Group via Yahoo! Finance - Feb 06 5:49 AM
Transition Therapeutics Inc. , announced the acquisition of an additional 1,500,000 common shares of Ellipsis Neurotherapeutics Inc. . Transition now owns 33% of ENI and has the potential to increase that holding to 39% through the achievement milestones in its management services agreement with ENI.Save to My Web