US starts grappling with ‘travesty’ of untreated hepatitis C
“WASHINGTON — Too many Americans are missing out on a cure for hepatitis C, and a study underway in a hard-hit corner of Kentucky is exploring a simple way to start changing that. The key: On-the-spot diagnosis to replace today’s multiple-step testing. In about an hour and with just a finger-prick of blood, researchers can tell some of the toughest-to-treat patients — people who inject drugs — they have hepatitis C and hand over potentially life-saving medication. Waiting for standard tests “even one or two days for someone who’s actively using drugs, we can lose touch with them,” said Jennifer Havens of the University of Kentucky, who’s leading the study in rural Perry County. To start treatment right away “that’s huge, absolutely huge.” Single-visit hepatitis C diagnosis already is offered in other countries, and now the White House wants to make it a priority here.”
Hepatitis information site infohep closing after ten years
“Last month, NAM published its final news story and bulletin on infohep.org. We launched infohep in 2013, in partnership with the European Liver Patients’ Association (ELPA). Our aim was to develop a high-quality online resource to increase awareness of viral hepatitis, its treatment, and the needs of people living with viral hepatitis in Europe.”
Health Department Releases 2021 Hepatitis A, B, and C Annual Report
“The report highlights progress toward implementing New York City’s viral hepatitis plan. Cases of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C in New York City increased from 2020 to 2021, as more people accessed care services following the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Direct-acting antiviral agents significantly lower Hepatitis C related mortality and cancer risk
“1. In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection treated with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents had significantly lower mortality and a 27% lower risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) than patients with untreated HCV infection.
- Patients who received DAA treatment for HCV had a lower risk of developing diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and cardiovascular disease (CVD) than patients with untreated HCV.”
