Treatments Improve, But Hepatitis C Still a Threat

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Treatments Improve, But Hepatitis C Still a Threat

Boston Globe Online (10/11/99) P. D1
Foreman, Judy

Although there are new treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, the disease still poses a threat and is the No. 1 cause for liver transplantation. An estimated 3 million Americans have the virus, and many are unaware of their infection. The virus can go undetected for years, causing severe liver damage. The virus claims 10,000 lives a year, a number that will probably triple within a few years. According to public health officials, testing for HCV is a key step--one made easier recently by the arrival of a $70 home test kit from Home Access Health in stores. Individuals considered at risk for the disease include injection drug users and anyone who had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before 1992. A new HCV treatment, Schering- Plough's Rebetron, can generate a sustained response against the virus. However, the bundled product--which combines interferon and ribavirin--is expensive and can cause miserable flu-type symptoms. Some patients argue that using a different interferon than Schering's product may be less toxic; but the bundling prevents scientists from testing their interferons with ribavirin, which was only approved by the Food and Drug Administration as part of the combined Rebetron product.

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