What Is the Prognosis After Finding Out Haveing First Stages of Hep C?
Question by Julie Torrey: what is the prognosis after finding out haveing first stages of Hep C?
Best answer:
Answer by JayM
Most infections will remain asymptomatic for decades. However, about 85% of infected individuals will progress to some level of disease. The disease can range from mild, chronic hepatitis to fulminant hepatitis and complete liver failure. HCV is also one of the leading causes of liver cancer in humans.
Much of your prognosis depends on which genotype of HCV you are infected with. Most HCV infections in North America and western Europe are caused by genotype 1, which is the least susceptible to anti-viral therapy.
Therapy generally is a 24-24 week course of interferon, with or without a second drug called ribavirin. Side effects can may these drugs intolerable.
But again, much depends on which genotype you are infected with.
Answer by BJC
A lot better after 2011 (if you have genotype 1a or 1b).
There are two new drugs which can be added to the existing ribavirin/peg-interferon that greatly increase the success rate for curing geno 1a and 1b (previously two of the harder to treat strains).
And more new treatments in the pipeline. Hep C has gotten a lot easier to cure, and treatments should only be getting better.
So, good news, really.
More Drug Treatment News 2011 Information…
One Response to What Is the Prognosis After Finding Out Haveing First Stages of Hep C?
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I was diagnosed with Hep C Genotype 1 in 2003. Likely got it in 1993-1994. No symptoms for me until about 2 yrs ago. The answerer is correct two new drugs have made the sauces rate of a sustained viral response better, from around 50% to around 90%. I started Triple therapy 4 days ago. These drugs have also shortened the length of treatment. So it is Good news.!!