Hepatitis C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. Unfortunately there is no vaccine for this disease but hepatitis C can be prevented by avoiding behavior that spread the virus, including sharing needles, syringes, or contact with other injection equipment. Currently, about 3.2 million people have hepatitis C and sadly most do not even know they have it. Medications known as antivirals are used to treat hepatitis C based on your condition, but researchers are doing their best to treat this disease with effective treatment in less time. Visiting a hepatitis C doctor Los Angeles patients trust can help your cause before damage to the liver ensues.
Previous Hepatitis C Treatment
Hepatitis C, also known as hepatitis C virus or HCV, is a disease caused by a virus that infects the liver. It is a blood borne virus that can cause acute or chronic hepatitis infection, ranging in mild illness that lasts a few weeks to a lifelong illness. Historically, cure rates for hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis (liver scarring) have been lower than 50 percent with adverse effects from treatment. The previous techniques of care involved a complicated regimen that included shots and up to 18 tablets a day for 48 weeks and subsequent follow up care to test for therapy success. Now researchers may have found a simpler solution that shifts away from injections and multiple pills.
Higher Cure Rates
Today, researchers find that the all oral regimen treatment for hepatitis C patients has promising results. The new regimen doubles the viral cure rates f 90 to 100 percent in as little as 12 weeks of treatment. Reducing treatment time of a year to three months or less is great advantage for hepatitis C patients, especially since the pills are easier to swallow and no longer with painful injections. The new regimen consists of Sovaldi (sofosbuvir), the first drug approved to treat certain types of hepatitis C, and three protease inhibitors Olysio (simeprevir), Victerlis and Incivek to treat chronic HCV.
The combination of drugs sofobuvir and simeprevir with or without ribavirin capsules cured 93 percent of patients in 12 weeks. As per the study published in The Lancet, this form of treatment was tolerated by patients and hopes to encourage others to understand their need for liver damage prevention by diagnosing hepatitis C with a simple blood test.
Hepatitis Treatment Los Angeles
All in all, the study solidifies the sooner your hepatitis is diagnosed is the better chance you have to prevent further liver damage with an effective treatment plan. Particularly, U.S. baby boomers are the patients most in need of testing as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that 75 percent of U.S. residents with chronic hepatitis C were born between 1945 and 1965. If you are in need of testing or hepatitis treatment then it is best to consult with the hepatologist Los Angeles patients choose most. Contact our hepatology specialist’s office at (310) 652-4472.
