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At the Digestive Disease
Weekly conference in Washington on Monday, researchers reported on a drug
combination that completely kills
hepatitis C virus (HCV), and keeps it from
returning, in some of the patients studied. However, the scientists are
still unsure why the cocktail of pegylated interferon and ribavirin worked
so completely in those patients and failed in others.
The study, conducted in six countries and headed in the United States by
Virginia Commonwealth University, proves the drug combination is the most
effective HCV treatment. A total of 997 patients who had cleared HCV while
taking the cocktail were followed for almost a year. Of those, 99 percent
remained virus-free an average of four years after completing the treatment
and up to seven years later.
But the combination only clears the virus in about 40 percent of patients
infected with the most common hepatitis C strain, or about two-thirds of
cases. African-Americans and patients with severe liver cirrhosis are less
likely to respond to the treatment. The cocktail succeeds around 80 percent
of the time against other HCV strains.
In addition, the drugs' side effects can be serious. While most patients
report little more than flu-like symptoms, small numbers report depression,
moodiness, hair loss, sharp anemia, and in rare instances, heart and kidney
failure, suicidal thoughts, and even death.
About 4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C, a blood-borne
virus. Most cases are the result of blood transfusions conducted before 1992
or IV drug use, though HCV can be transmitted through sex.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (05.21.07):: Bob
Lamendola |
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