Treatment                                                                                       

 

Aim of Medication and Approach To Treatment

There is currently no vaccine available for hepatitis C (HCV) however there are a variety of different treatments available for those infected. The type of treatment administered depends on the severity of the infection.

 

In patients with chronic hepatitis, the aim of treatment is to reduce inflammation and prevent progression to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and cancer through the eradication of the virus. Duration of therapy depends on the genotype of the virus:

  • Genotype 2, 3, 5 or 6 - therapy lasts 24 weeks.

  • Genotype 1 and 4 – therapy lasts 48 weeks.

 

Patients who develop symptoms of hepatitis, in particular those associated with chronic hepatitis, should consult their doctor or be seen by a hospital liver specialist before treatment is undertaken.  Along with the genotype, the form of treatment also depends on liver function which is established through blood tests and liver biopsies.

 

HCV induces chronic infection in 50-80% of those infected and approximately 50% of these do not respond to therapy. Medication is more successful during acute infection however there is an increased chance of spontaneous clearance of the virus without treatment in those with acute hepatitis.

 

Medication and Treatment

Current medication consists of two drugs that are either administered as a single drug therapy or combination therapy, depending on the state of infection: ribavirin and pegylated interferon alpha-2a/2b. Combination therapy results in better treatment and is usually administered for 24-48 weeks; it helps patients not only remove the virus, but also recover damaged liver tissue.

 

If the liver becomes severely fibrotic or cancerous, then transplantation is considered. Unfortunately even with transplantation, there is a chance of a relapse. The donor liver almost always becomes infected and the risk of progression to cirrhosis reappears.

 

Side Effects

Side effects can vary depending on the patient and their lifestyle, or the severity of their infection. They can range from mild flu-like symptoms (e.g. headaches, fevers, nausea) to anaemia and cardiovascular events, but this depends on the type of drug administered.

 

It is suggested that a change in lifestyle may help to deal with the drug treatment and any possible side effects that may occur. To protect their liver, patients infected with HCV should stop consuming alcohol and using other medication, and get vaccinated against other forms of hepatitis (hepatitis A and B). 

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