Anti-virus hepatitis C’s “radical” move!
Because hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C within the large population of the liver, leading to chronic inflammation of the liver necrosis, Over time, chronic liver damage that can lead to scar formation that is medically called “liver fibrosis”, then further can develop cirrhosis or primary liver cancer.
In order to block the frenzied attack on hepatitis C virus, antiviral treatment is targeted “radical” move.
Fortunately, of HCV antiviral therapy efficacy is superior to hepatitis.
Drugs together, significantly enhance the efficacy of
Hepatitis C antiviral therapy development has gone through three important stages.
In the IFN-α prior to clinical application, we have no special treatment, α interferon treatment for hepatitis C antiviral therapy has opened a new chapter, this is the first milestone; since been discovered that interferon-α combined with ribavirin ( Over the past referred to as “Ribavirin”) can significantly improve the anti-viral effect, therefore, ribavirin as a combination therapy of anti-hepatitis C virus treatment drug to become the second milestone; in 2003 in China’s listed pegylated interferon combined with ribavirin in treatment programs, to the current anti-viral treatment for hepatitis C the maximum efficacy of HCV antiviral therapy is the third milestone.
If the proper treatment can make 3 / 4 of hepatitis C patients have sustained antiviral response.
However, there are still a part of the hepatitis C antiviral therapy in patients with neglect, but a general liver protection JiangMei symptomatic treatment.
New progress in understanding the treatment, patients should enhance the confidence to overcome the disease, emphasis on regular anti-virus treatment, fight for the chance of recovery, to prevent the development of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Therapeutic target to limit viral replication
Of anti-hepatitis C virus treatment objective is of course is to be able to completely remove the body of the hepatitis C virus, but under the present conditions is difficult to do this.
Therefore, only the second best to maximize the inhibition or suppression of virus reproduction, that is, the virus in the blood was negative (actually reduced to undetectable levels).
This could also delay or reduce the liver damage, and thus try to avoid the development of cirrhosis, liver failure or liver cancer, but also can improve quality of life.
Anti-viral treatment, not everyone can
Not all hepatitis C patients need anti-virus treatment.
First of all, we must demonstrate through laboratory tests of blood in the hepatitis C virus RNA (HCV RNA)-positive when the need for anti-viral therapy.
Some people seem to hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) positive, but HCV RNA negative, this situation occurs generally considered to be past hepatitis C virus infection, or in recovering from illness or the course of the steady-state, no anti – retroviruses.
You may be aware that current anti-virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B treatment, not only requires the hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) positive, but requiring elevated transaminase two times more, it is because under normal circumstances aminotransferase, anti-virus treatment poor results.
But recent studies have found: hepatitis C patients with normal transaminases for the anti-viral efficacy and elevated transaminase similar to, so the blood HCV RNA-positive patients, even if no significant increase in transaminases may also be given anti-viral treatment.
However, some experts believe that transaminase has been normal or only slightly elevated in the patients, their slow progression of the disease, and treatment is more costly, more side effects, do not rush to treatment, subject to regular observation.
How what the master had to by the full exchange between doctors and patients, on balance, choose the most appropriate option.
In addition, patients with cirrhosis occurs, that is, there have been ascites, hepatic encephalopathy (also known as hepatic coma), or gastrointestinal bleeding, not only unable to withstand the side effects of antiretroviral therapy is also very difficult and produce effects, it not suitable for treatment.
In theory, for acute hepatitis C (that is, less than 6 months after infection) patients given interferon therapy can reduce the incidence of chronic.
Unfortunately, for most patients make a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C is.
Professional guidance, resist drug side effects
As the saying goes “is a three-drug”, antiviral drugs is also a double-edged sword.
Interferon on the one hand is the most effective anti-HCV drugs, on the other side-effects are also very obvious.
Almost all the patients it can cause fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and other flu-like symptoms; in the evening injection of interferon, or interferon injections while taking acetaminophen or other antipyretic analgesics, can prevent or mitigate flu-like symptoms.
A second common side effects are bone marrow suppression, manifested as peripheral white blood cells and thrombocytopenia, therefore, should regularly monitor the blood count.
The main side effects of ribavirin for the hemolysis and teratogenic effects, renal dysfunction, can cause severe hemolysis, it is disabled ribavirin.
Male and female patients during treatment and within 6 months after treatment, should take contraceptive measures.
Recommended in patients with medical treatment must be to the regular hospital, under the guidance of experienced specialists to regulate the anti-hepatitis C virus treatment.
Patient with the treatment an important factor in the success of
Finally should be noted that patients with (medically known as compliance) that affect the treatment success rate is another important factor.
Against the hepatitis C virus treatment in patients with the right to have an expectation of disappointment and even easier to expect too easily misled by false advertising; expectations too low, you lose the confidence of antiviral therapy, thus losing a chance for healing.
Therefore, the understanding of the disease’s natural course and treatment of the necessity of the purpose of anti-viral treatment, the existing anti-retroviral therapy results and the success rate, especially the side effects of drug treatment and prevention and mitigation of the side effects of methods, it is necessary .
The close cooperation between doctors and patients is one of the keys to overcome the disease, treatment, hepatitis C is no exception.