Cure is possible and the chances are good
A person is said to be cured when a test, taken six months after treatment has been completed, shows that that the Hep C virus has been cleared from the blood. i Cure rates are dependent on several factors, including the treatment you receiveii, how much your liver is damagediii,iv, and what genotype (or strain of Hepatitis C) you havev. As such, overall cure rates vary from person to person. Research has shown that treating Hepatitis C before it progresses (meaning liver damage or scarring) can result in a significantly higher chance of achieving a cureiii. The length of treatment needed also varies from 6 to 12 months.vi
The benefits of achieving a cure and living free of the Hepatitis C virus include:vii
- Improvement in quality of life
- A reduced risk of progression of liver damage
- A lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer)
- Significant regression in fibrosis (even in cirrhotic patients)/liver damage.
Hepatitis C antiviral treatment involves tablets each day and one injection a week.
References
i AASLD Practice Guidelines - Diagnosis, Management and Treatment of Hepatitis C. Ghany M.G., Strader D.B., Thomas D.L., Seef L.B. Hepatology, Vol 49, No 4, 2009. ii Rumi M et al. Gastroenterology 2010; 138: 108-115. Ascione A et al. Gastroenterology 2010; 138: 116-122. iii Roberts SK et al. Hepatology 2009; 50(4):1045-1055. ivBruno S et al. Hepatology 2010; 51 (1); 1-9. v Fried MW et al. N Eng J Med 2002;347(13):975-982. vi Approved Product Information. vii HIV, viral hepatitis and STI’s - A Guide for Primary Care. Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. 2008 edition.