Having one chronic illness is difficult enough; but having two chronic diseases is even more of a challenge. Unfortunately, chronic Hepatitis C and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) occur simultaneously more frequently than most realize. Although having these two conditions makes wellness harder to achieve, three easily available natural substances seem to benefit both conditions.
About Hepatitis C
A viral disease that causes inflammation of the liver, Hepatitis C chronically affects about 170 million people worldwide. Spread via blood-to-blood contact, the most common way to get Hepatitis C is by injecting drugs or sharing a needle with someone who has Hepatitis C. However, there are many other ways to contract this illness - including receiving a blood transfusion prior to 1992 and long-term kidney dialysis.
Because most people infected with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms, their infection is likely to go unnoticed until it has caused significant liver damage. Capable of causing progressive liver injury, Hepatitis C infection has the potential of reaching advanced liver disease, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver failure.
The treatment for Hepatitis C has made great strides in recent years, eliminating the virus in 50 to 75 percent of those who can endure the intense drug cocktail. Regrettably, not everyone with Hepatitis C is a candidate for the pharmaceutical treatment and many people cannot endure the sometimes severe side effects. Those who are not able to get rid of the Hepatitis C virus must be vigilant with helpful lifestyle choices to prevent the progression of their liver disease.
About COPD
A leading cause of death and illness, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to a group of lung diseases that cause breathing difficulties. Composed primarily of emphysema and chronic asthmatic bronchitis, COPD eventually damages the airways and interferes with the lung's exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Smoking is the leading culprit of this type of lung disease; the more a person smokes, the more likely he or she will develop COPD. Besides tobacco smoke, long-term exposure to inhaled irritants like dust, chemical fumes and air pollution can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Because COPD's damage to the lungs is permanent, treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and preventing further damage. Medications are used to open airways, reduce lung inflammation and quell concurrent infections. Lifestyle choices (like quitting smoking and exercising) are essential for helping those with COPD breathe easily and prevent further lung damage.
COPD and Hepatitis C Together
Although there have been relatively few studies on their concurrence, clinicians frequently report patients having both chronic Hepatitis C and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As published in a February 2010 edition of the journal Epidemiology and Infection, Brazilian researchers investigated the prevalence of Hepatitis C in patients with COPD. In their study, they found the following:
• The prevalence of Hepatitis C infection in COPD patients was 7.5 percent.
• The prevalence of Hepatitis C infection in blood donors was .41 percent.
In addition to demonstrating a significantly greater likelihood of Hepatitis C infection in those with COPD than the general blood donation population, this research also revealed that patients with COPD had more severe lung disease when they also were infected with Hepatitis C. There have been various theories explaining why these two illnesses frequently co-exist, such as:
• Lung damage could be an extrahepatic manifestation of Hepatitis C. This means that besides the liver, the pulmonary system might be an additional location this virus infiltrates.
• Those who partake in lifestyle choices known to cause COPD might be more likely to engage in activity that spreads the Hepatitis C virus.
• Chronic Hepatitis C infection could function as a trigger for inflammation in the lungs, thus initiating or exacerbating the development of COPD.
Disease Progression Intervention
While further studies are needed to clarify the relationship between Hepatitis C and COPD, experts have identified three natural substances that could benefit the progression of both ailments: Vitamin C, Vitamin D and N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC).
1. Vitamin C - Vitamin C helps neutralize free radicals, substances that are known to cause cellular damage via oxidation. Experts believe Vitamin C may suppress oxidative damage in the lungs, hindering the development of chronic lung diseases and reducing lung damage. The Hepatitis C virus is known to induce a particularly high level of oxidative stress in the liver. As such, Vitamin C is also used to reduce Hepatitis C's oxidative damage to liver cells.
2. Vitamin D - Studies have shown that both people with Hepatitis C and COPD are deficient in Vitamin D. A study presented at the 2011 American Thoracic Society International Conference found that patients with COPD who took Vitamin D had a significant improvement in lung capacity. A study presented at the 2010 conference of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases found that Vitamin D dramatically reduced blood levels of Hepatitis C in those with the virus.
3. N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) - A revered amino acid, NAC is the precursor to the body's most powerful endogenous antioxidant - glutathione. NAC was first developed as a dietary supplement to help break up mucus in the lungs in conditions such as bronchitis. However, current studies are showing that NAC can slow the progression of, and ease the symptoms of COPD. One of glutathione's best-known roles is to defend cells against damage from wastes and toxins, making it an ideal choice for those wanting to protect their liver from toxicity. Due to its constant battle defending itself against Hepatitis C, a liver infected with this virus can benefit from increased resistance to toxins. In addition, research has consistently shown that lower levels of glutathione are associated with more severe liver disease.
Those who have both Hepatitis C and COPD are not alone. Physicians still don't know exactly why these two illnesses frequently present together. However, they do recognize that their concurrence requires a greater effort to prevent disease advancement. By taking Vitamin C, Vitamin D and NAC, people with Hepatitis C and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be actively involved in preserving their lung and liver wellness.
Editor's Note: This is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Because each person's needs are unique, always discuss any new health care regimen with your chosen doctor.
References:
http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/124/5/2035.full, COPD and Hepatitis C, Ian D. Pavord, DM, et al, Retrieved April 16, 2012, Chest, November 2003.
http://hepatmon.com/view/?id=382, Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Erol S, et al, Retrieved April 16, 2012, Hepatitis Monthly, Winter 2009.
http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/07/hcv_and_the_bod.html, HCV and the Body's Most Important Antioxidant, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved April 22, 2012, Hepatitis Central, 2012.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/462155-what-vitamins-do-i-need-for-hepatitis-c-copd/, What Vitamins Do I Need for Hepatitis C and COPD?, Tanya Louise Coad, Retrieved April 16, 2012, Diamond Media, Inc., 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/copd/DS00916, COPD, Retrieved April 21, 2012, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001153/, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Retrieved April 22, 2012, A.D.A.M., Inc., 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001329/, Hepatitis C, Retrieved April 21, 2012, A.D.A.M., Inc, 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19563696, Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with COPD, Silva, DR, et al, Retrieved April 16, 2012, Epidemiology and Infection, February 2010.
http://www.smart-publications.com/articles/n-acetyl-cysteine-nac-helps-alleviate-copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmona, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) Helps Alleviate COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), Retrieved April 20, 2012, Smart Publications, Inc., 2012.
]]>Liz Highleyman
Produced in collaboration with hivandhepatitis.com
Published: 30 April 2012
Adding GS-7977 to pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 12 weeks led to a sustained response rate of 90% for previously untreated chronic hepatitis C patients with difficult-to-treat genotype 1, researchers reported at the 47th International Liver Congress (EASL 2012) last week in Barcelona.
Last year's approval of the first direct-acting antiviral agents has changed the face of hepatitis C treatment. The first such drugs still must be taken with pegylated interferon and ribavirin, but they increase cure rates and offer the potential for shorter treatment.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.aidsmap.com/GS-7977-with-interferonribavirin-cures-most-treatment-naive-hepatitis-C-patients-in-12-weeks/page/2333885/
By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today
Published: April 26, 2012
The FDA has issued a warning against using boceprevir (Victrelis) and anti-HIV drugs that contain the protease inhibitor ritonavir (Norvir) because of possibly dangerous drug interactions.
But the agency cautioned that patients already taking boceprevir and one of the HIV regimens containing ritonavir should not stop their medications without consulting their doctors.
Physicians with patients taking boceprevir and any HIV regimen containing ritonavir should monitor them carefully to ensure that:
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Hepatitis/32377
Good healthcare tends to costs a bundle, and not all Americans have it. While this administration's political agenda includes expanding access to healthcare for everyone, the system remains far from perfect. Even those who have health insurance are not guaranteed personalized, detail-oriented, medical attention. As such, everyone is encouraged to know what medications could be harmful to their health. Since the livers of people with Hepatitis C are especially vulnerable to toxicity from medications, these individuals must be particularly knowledgeable about every drug they put in their body.
The fear of legal culpability puts healthcare in a vice; sources advise checking with a physician before doing any strenuous activity, taking any supplement or trying any new medication - but most people don't have the luxury of including a primary care doctor in every potentially health-influencing decision they make. As such, many gamble with their well-being by proceeding with medications without an overseeing physician's consent. Making matters more complex, different practitioners that someone sees may not be fully aware of their entire health history. Without one physician overseeing/monitoring each and every medication a person takes, people need to be their own best health advocate.
The treatment for Hepatitis C keeps improving, and the cure rate of this potentially chronic liver disease keeps rising. Nonetheless, there are still many living with chronic Hepatitis C who choose not to take the treatment, who were unresponsive to the medications or who are ineligible for the treatment. Those who continue to battle with chronic Hepatitis C (or any chronic liver disease) must be extremely cautious about protecting their liver from toxicity.
A majority of medications are processed by the liver, increasing the demand for this organ to filter out hazardous substances from the bloodstream. When a liver is already trying to recover from its seemingly endless battle with the Hepatitis C virus, it is likely to have fewer healthy cells available to filter toxins. The added burden of metabolizing drugs makes it much easier for someone with Hepatitis C to get drug-induced liver damage than someone with a healthy liver.
It's no secret that drugs can damage the liver - even in a person with a healthy liver. Called drug-induced hepatitis, an example of the accidental harm caused by medications occurred in North Carolina in early 2012. According to reports, a local physician assistant failed to properly monitor the effects of a prescription drug, causing a patient to suffer liver damage. It appears that the patient had been prescribed a drug known to be hard on the liver, and the former supervising physician had ordered frequent liver testing. However, the physician assistant assumed care of the patient and continued the original drug prescription, but failed to renew the order for frequent liver monitoring. Unfortunately, the lack of liver monitoring led to severe, permanent liver damage. The outcome of this situation could have been much worse if the patient had Hepatitis C.
There are hundreds of medications that are metabolized by the liver - both prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In an ideal world, each person would have a physician who knows all about his or her medical history and monitors every pharmaceutical he or she takes. In the real world, many of us are left to fend for ourselves in this arena. Instead of turning one's well-being over to the medical system, being diagnosed with Hepatitis C should put those affected in the driver seat to control their fate:
• by making sure they know what kind of stress every drug taken places on the liver
• by instigating a dialogue with their primary healthcare provider about monitoring their liver's health when necessary
In the end, develop the patience to learn about your medications and the courage to speak up to a doctor about their effect on your liver. Being responsible for these two simple steps can help those with chronic Hepatitis C take an active role in receiving the best healthcare possible.
References:
http://www.hepcnet.net/drugsandliverdamage.html, Drugs that may cause Liver Dysfunction or Damage, Retrieved April 15, 2012, HepCnet.net, 2012.
http://www.medicinenet.com/drug_induced_liver_disease/article.htm, Drug-Induced Liver Disease, Dennis Lee, MD, Retrieved April 15, 2012, MedicineNet, Inc., 2012.
http://www.salisburypost.com/News/040512-China-Grove-state-medical-board-physician-assistant-Kim-Reid-qcd, Physician assistant receives 'letter of concern' after medication causes liver damage in patient, Shavonne Potts, Retrieved April 15, 2012, Post Publishing Company, Inc., 2012.
]]>Published April 19, 2012
Reuters
A combination of experimental hepatitis C drugs from Gilead Sciences Inc and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co showed impressive results in new clinical trial data released on Thursday, helping fuel an 11 percent rise in Gilead shares.
Gilead's GS-7977, acquired with its $11 billion purchase of Pharmasset, when combined with Bristol's daclatasvir led to a 100 percent response rate in previously untreated patients with the most common form of hepatitis C, according to interim data from a mid-stage trial presented at a liver disease meeting in Europe.
The results were accomplished without interferon, an injected drug that causes flu-like symptoms and other side effects that often lead patients to discontinue or delay treatment, or ribavirin, an older antiviral drug that is also currently part of all treatment regimens.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/04/19/gilead-bristol-hepatitis-c-drugs-show-promise-in-clinical-trial/
Bloomberg News
By Makiko Kitamura on April 19, 2012
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH said its experimental hepatitis C oral treatment cleared the virus in as many as 82 percent of patients in a study.
The mid-stage Sound-C2 trial followed 362 patients who hadn't received other treatments before taking the Ingelheim, Germany-based drugmaker's BI 201335 protease inhibitor and BI 207127 polymerase inhibitor, either as a two-drug combination or along with a third drug, ribavirin.
Researchers reported an 82 percent cure rate among patients with the most common type of hepatitis C after 28 weeks of treatment, Boehringer said today at the European Association for the Study of the Liver annual meeting in Barcelona. Among all patients studied, 68 percent were cured. The study contrasts with other studies being presented at the conference with much smaller patient groups.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-19/boehringer-ingelheim-hepatitis-c-drugs-cured-82-percent-in-trial
Millions of Americans know they are currently living with chronic Hepatitis C - and millions more have yet to learn of their infection with this common, dangerous liver virus. Despite recent advances in Hepatitis C treatment, a sizable portion of those with this illness are not able to triumph over this infection, rendering them vulnerable to advancing chronic liver disease. Fortunately, several natural supplements demonstrate an ability to impair the Hepatitis C virus. While more intensive research is needed to fully back quercetin as one such supplement, research from Los Angeles delivers hope that quercetin inhibits the life cycle of the Hepatitis C virus.
Hepatitis C Treatment
Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease that can cause progressive damage to the liver. If the virus is not halted early enough, it can cause irreparable and even fatal liver injury. Hence, the need for effective treatment is paramount. Previously, the standard of treatment for Hepatitis C was a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. These drugs often exert a long list of side effects, and were deemed successful in eliminating Hepatitis C in about half of those who took the drugs. However, 2011 marked a major change in Hepatitis C therapy with two new drugs approved for treatment: telaprevir and boceprevir. When added to interferon and ribavirin, telaprevir or boceprevir are believed to dramatically boost treatment success rates. However, they do not 'cure' everyone. This is because some individuals:
• are ineligible for Hepatitis C therapy
• must stop Hepatitis C treatment early due to the drugs' side effects
• do not achieve a sustained viral response rate (the benchmark of successful treatment)
These obstacles to successful elimination of Hepatitis C put a great demand on natural - yet effective - treatment adjuncts. As demonstrated by UCLA researchers, the antioxidant Quercetin shows exciting promise in the inhibition of Hepatitis C.
About Quercetin
Quercetin is a plant pigment known as a flavonoid, a substance that gives many fruits, flowers and vegetables their color. Flavonoids are also antioxidants, compounds that scavenge damaging free radicals to prevent cellular damage. Quercetin is found in many plants and foods, such as:
• citrus fruits
• apples
• onions
• parsley
• sage
• tea
• grapes
• dark cherries
• blackberries
• Ginkgo biloba
• St. John's wort
Quercetin appears to have a variety of beneficial health properties. It acts like an antioxidant, an antihistamine, an anti-inflammatory and may help protect against heart disease and cancer. In addition, research from UCLA presents evidence that quercetin could impair the life cycle of the Hepatitis C virus.
UCLA Research - Past and Present
As published in the December 2009 edition of the journal Hepatology, research led by UCLA assistant professor of pathology Samuel French found that quercetin inhibited the synthesis of two cellular proteins that are important in Hepatitis C infection. As such, this study revealed quercetin to significantly inhibit infection with Hepatitis C. Since this natural supplement has a safety profile that dramatically trumps any of the currently approved medications for Hepatitis C treatment, French's finding is substantial.
To gather more evidence, UCLA is sponsoring a Phase I trial to evaluate the safety and Hepatitis C antiviral activity of quercetin. Still recruiting participants, this trial zeroes in on Hepatitis C patients who have contraindications to standard antiviral treatment:
• treatment naïve patients who decline standard therapy
• patients who previously had standard treatments with relapse
• those who had intolerable side effects to previous treatment
With completion of the study expected midway through 2012, the Hepatitis C community is actively waiting to learn how much of an impact quercetin has on fighting this liver disease.
Recent progress by the pharmaceutical industry has escalated the hope for millions of people to conquer their Hepatitis C infection. For those that are not helped by these new drugs, there is still hope. Quercetin, a nutritional supplement that functions as an anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, may be able to protect the liver from this virus without unleashing the side effects that have come to be associated with Hepatitis C treatment.
References:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT01438320, Q-Trial in Patients with Hepatitis C, Retrieved February 12, 2012, National Institutes of Health, 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19839005, The heat shock protein inhibitor Quercetin attenuates hepatitis C virus production, Gonzalez O, et al, Retrieved February 12, 2012, Hepatology, December 2009.
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100106/Quercetin-may-prevent-hepatitis-C-infection3b-findings-may-lead-to-less-toxic-treatments.aspx, Quercetin May Prevent Hepatitis C Infection; findings may lead to less toxic treatments, Retrieved February 12, 2012, News-Medical.net, 2012.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/quercetin-000322.htm, Quercetin, Retrieved February 12, 2012, University of Maryland Medical Center, 2012.
]]>By Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.
The formula upon which SST is derived has a long history of helping conditions related to the liver and gallbladder. Despite the time-tested strength this formula displays in supporting several areas of human health, sales and marketing restrictions rendered it unavailable for a short amount of time. Luckily, the obstacle hindering the sale of SST has been resolved, making this legendary supplement accessible to consumers once again.
Known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Xiao Chai Hu Tang, the herbal formula known as SST originated during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD - 220 AD). Comprised of seven ingredients, Xiao Chai Hu Tang was traditionally brewed as a tea. Although this potent brew was very effective, the labor involved in its preparation and the pungent, bitter taste dissuaded many potential benefactors from taking it. Comprised of the exact same seven ingredients as Xiao Chai Hu Tang, SST is a compliant-friendly capsule that doesn't require brewing a tea or tasting the potent herbs.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2012/04/sst-is-back/
From U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
April 6, 2012
A combination of oral hepatitis C drugs being developed by Abbott Laboratories realized cure rates exceeding 90 percent in treatment-naïve patients, according to a small, mid-stage study. The results, released Wednesday, will be presented later this month in Barcelona at a meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver.
For 12 weeks, patients in the Phase II trial, known as "Co-Pilot," received Abbott's protease inhibitor ABT-450, boosted by the antiviral drug ritonavir with its polymerase inhibitor ABT-333, and ribavirin, which is used in all current hepatitis C regimens. Patients' blood virus levels were checked 24 weeks later for a sustained virologic response. Those achieving SVR were considered cured.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.thebody.com/content/66556/abbott-hepatitis-c-combo-impressive-in-small-study.html
ScienceDaily (Apr. 3, 2012) -- A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute has found antibodies that can prevent infection from widely differing strains of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in cell culture and animal models.
HCV's very high rate of mutation normally helps it to evade its host's immune system. The newly discovered antibodies, however, attach to sites on the viral envelope that seldom mutate. One of the new antibodies, AR4A, shows broader HCV neutralizing activity than any previously reported anti-HCV antibody.
"These antibodies attach to sites on the viral envelope that were previously unknown, but now represent promising targets for an HCV vaccine," said Mansun Law, an assistant professor at Scripps Research. Law is the senior author of the new report, which appears online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Continue reading this entire article:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403124400.htm
Across a variety of cultures, the ability to receive quality medical treatment is not uniform. Unfortunate for some with chronic Hepatitis C, access to the latest drugs can be unjustly withheld. Having health insurance coverage, being considered a good candidate for treatment and assumption of a low relapse risk can be determining factors in who gets the most advanced medications for fighting the Hepatitis C virus. Despite being a population particularly inundated by this viral infection of the liver, intravenous drug users are often excluded from the latest approved Hepatitis C drug regimen.
Clinically acknowledged as a disabling disease, drug addiction is found in every socioeconomic class, within every ethnic group and gender. Addicts typically have extremely strong physiological and psychological cravings to use drugs despite their negative effects. The cravings can be as strong as a human's desire for food and water. Society imposes stigma on addicts because many still believe that addiction is a character flaw or weakness that is incurable. Despite addiction being a treatable disease, the stigma against addicts remains deeply rooted.
Stigma is responsible for many instances of social, legal and medical discrimination. Discrimination hurts drug addicts because they are excluded from rules that apply to "normal" people. As such, insurance companies get away with refusing to pay for drug treatment - or by charging higher deductibles and co-pays than treating other diseases.
As reported in the September 2007 edition of the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, injection drug users are often denied Hepatitis C treatment because of concerns about adherence to the therapy. Most experts believe that these concerns are due to the stigma of drug addiction, not based on actual facts. As found in a study by researchers in San Francisco, the majority of methadone-maintained drug users can adhere to Hepatitis C treatment.
According to a Croatian study published in the December 2011 edition of Hepatitis Monthly, Hepatitis C virus is one of the major infectious diseases among injecting drug users - but most injecting drug users are not treated. Upon analyzing the outcome of Hepatitis C treatment (consisting of pegylated interferon and ribavirin) on injecting drug users over the course of seven years, the researchers determined that treatment of chronic Hepatitis C in this population should be strongly encouraged as they have positive predictors for achieving success, such as:
• younger age
• shorter duration of infection
• favorable histological stage of the disease
• good adherence to treatment
Additionally, the researchers found there to be no difference in safety and tolerability profiles of Hepatitis C treatment in intravenous drug users compared to patients without a history of drug abuse.
Now that there are two new drugs available to aid pegylated interferon and ribavirin (boceprevir and telaprevir), the success rate of Hepatitis C treatment has risen dramatically, from about 50 percent to nearly 80 percent. Providing an update on new treatment approaches for substance abusers with Hepatitis C, researchers collaborated from Texas and Missouri. As published in a March 2012 edition of Current Opinions in Psychiatry, the researchers concluded that the newer treatment approaches for Hepatitis C will help many more patients than ever before to overcome the virus. However, changed attitudes and innovative approaches to patients with substance-use histories are needed to bring these scientific advances to those with a drug addiction problem.
Because it enables so many more people to successfully eliminate the virus, the new drugs added to Hepatitis C treatment have the ability to transform the burden of chronic Hepatitis C. Since drug users make up a large proportion of Hepatitis C infections, the new drug protocol is essential for this population. However, drug users, medical professionals and society in general must recognize that drug use should not be a barrier to receiving treatment. Made even more obvious by the dramatic increase in treatment effectiveness, the negative stigma associated with addiction remains as one of the largest obstacles to curing drug users of the Hepatitis C virus.
References:
http://www.allaboutaddiction.com/addiction/addiction-stigma-making-addiction-recovery-harder, Addiction Stigma, Retrieved March 11, 2012, allaboutaddiction.com, 2012.
http://www.hbo.com/addiction/stigma/52_coping_with_stigma.html, Coping with the Stigma of Addiction, David L. Rosenbloom, PhD, Retrieved March 11, 2012, Home Box Office, Inc., 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17700258, Adherence to hepatitis C treatment in recovering heroin users maintained on methadone, Sylvestre, DL, et al, Retrieved March 10, 2012, European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, September 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22368683, Intravenous Drug Users Can Achieve a High Sustained Virological Response Rate: experience From Croatian Reference Center for Viral Hepatitis, Kurelac I, et al, Retrieved March 11, 2012, Hepatitis Monthly, December 2011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22395769, Hepatitis C and substance use: new treatments and novel approaches, North CS, et al, Retrieved March 10, 2012, Current Opinion in Psychiatry, March 2012.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/illnesses-disabilities/types-illnesses-disabilities/alcoholism-drug-addiction.cfm, Alcoholism and drug addiction, Retrieved March 11, 2012, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2012.
]]>Although not yet identified, thousands of people are believed to have contracted the Hepatitis C virus - a potentially fatal liver illness - before 1989. At that time, Dr. Michael Houghton led the research team that finally recognized and isolated the Hepatitis C virus. Despite being capable of severe liver destruction, the complexities of Hepatitis C have precluded scientists from creating an effective, preventative vaccine. However, a recent announcement from Houghton, the same man responsible for discovering the Hepatitis C virus, indicates that his decade-long effort to prevent Hepatitis C is making progress.
The most common types of viral hepatitis are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. Most people recover from Hepatitis A without lasting liver damage. However, Hepatitis B and C can cause chronic liver disease, leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer or liver failure. With chronic liver disease, patients are usually asymptomatic until liver damage has advanced beyond repair.
Hepatitis C is emerging as one of the most concerning public health issues today:
• Worldwide, an estimated 170 million people have the virus.
• At least four million people are infected with Hepatitis C in the U.S.
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, one of every 33 baby boomers is living with Hepatitis C.
• In the U.S., Hepatitis C is the leading cause for liver transplants.
• According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Hepatitis C has surpassed HIV as a cause of mortality in the United States.
• Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne chronic viral infection.
The scale of this problem is compounded by the fact that most people only discover they are infected with Hepatitis C until they have progressed to advanced liver disease. This is because there are rarely any symptoms until liver damage is advanced.
Unlike Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, there is currently no vaccination to prevent Hepatitis C. Obviously, a Hepatitis C vaccine would be a great victory for preventative medicine. The challenge to developing a Hepatitis C vaccine is multifaceted, likely involving its genetic variations (genotypes) and its ability to mutate easily.
Announced in February 2012 at the Canada Excellence Research Chairs Summit in Vancouver, Dr. Houghton revealed that his team is just five years away from creating a useable vaccine for Hepatitis C. Following previous vaccine tests funded by the National Institutes of Health that yielded promising results, Houghton cited two lingering questions:
1. Did the vaccine recipients produce antibodies that could neutralize the actual infectious virus?
2. If the recipients could produce neutralizing antibodies, how broad was the response?
According to Houghton, the greatest challenge to an effective Hepatitis C vaccine is finding a single compound capable of neutralizing all of the different viral strains. Using a vaccine developed and tested on humans in his University of Alberta lab, Houghton and his co-investigator John Law discovered that they could use a single strain of the virus to draw out broad, cross-neutralizing antibodies against all the different major strains. Although seemingly minor, this step wipes out one of the biggest hurdles to developing an effective, preventative Hepatitis C vaccine.
There are still several more years of intensive study needed for Houghton's finding to transform into an FDA-approved vaccine. Nonetheless, the progress made in this University of Alberta lab could forever change the threat of Hepatitis C - a virus that was first isolated by Dr. Michael Houghton and potentially put to rest by the same man.
References:
http://hepatitis.about.com/od/prevention/a/HCVvaccine.htm, Why is there no vaccine for Hepatitis C?, Charles Daniel, Retrieved March 4, 2012, about.com, 2012.
http://www.drdiscuss.com/content/770-big-step-toward-vaccine-hepatitis-c.html, Big Step Toward Vaccine for Hepatitis C, Jamie Hanlon, Retrieved March 4, 2012, University of Alberta, 2012.C
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2105232/Doctor-discovered-hepatitis-C-creates-vaccine-prevent-liver-damaging-disease.html, Doctor who discovered Hepatitis C creates vaccine to prevent liver disease that kills 15,000 a year in the US, Claire Bates, Retrieved March 4, 2012, Associated Newspapers, Ltd., 2012.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/758969 , Hepatitis C Linked to More Deaths than HIV, Yael Waknine, Retrieved March 4, 2012, WebMD, LLC, 2012.
http://www.natap.org/2012/newsUpdates/022312_01.htm, Vaccine Discovered For hep C by Michael Houghton who discovered HCV in 1989, Jamie Hanlon, Retrieved March 4, 2012, University of Alberta, 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%20The%20long%20and%20winding%20road%20leading%20to%20the%20identification%20of%20the%20hepatitis%20C%20virus, The Long and Winding Road Leading to the Identification of the Hepatitis C Virus, Houghton, M, Retrieved March 4, 2012, Journal of Hepatology, November 2009.
Former Merck Unit Works on First Vaccine for Hepatitis C
By Makiko Kitamura on March 14, 2012
Okairos AG, a biotechnology business that Merck & Co. (MRK) sold to venture capital funds in 2007, is seeking to produce the first preventive vaccine for hepatitis C, challenging makers of treatments for the disease.
Okairos has begun a mid-stage study, funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, of a gene-based vaccine designed to stimulate the body's immune system to prevent hepatitis C from taking hold, Chief Operating Officer Tom Woiwode said in a phone interview from the company's Basel, Switzerland, headquarters.
No vaccine exists for hepatitis C, which affects as many as 170 million people globally, putting them at risk of developing liver cancer, according to the World Health Organization. The growing population of patients infected with the virus spurred Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD)'s decision in November to buy experimental hepatitis C-treatment maker Pharmasset Inc. for $10.8 billion and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY)'s acquisition in February of Inhibitex Inc. for $2.5 billion.
"This could change the landscape quite a bit," said Les Funtleyder, a health-care strategist and portfolio manager at Miller Tabak & Co. in New York. "In theory, if you could vaccinate everyone, you'd need a lot less drug." Funtleyder said he isn't aware of any other preventive vaccines in development.
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http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-14/former-merck-unit-works-on-first-vaccine-for-hepatitis-c
Pete Willows | 8 March 2012
CAIRO: About 10 million hepatitis C (HCV) patients live in Egypt, giving Egypt the distinction of having the highest prevalence of hepatitis C in the world. According to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the blood-borne pathogen infects almost 500,000 people in the country each year. According to the World Health Organization, the strong homogeneity of HCV subtypes found in Egypt (HCV4a) suggests an epidemic spread of HCV in the country.
In response to this rapidly spreading virus, an American University in Cairo (AUC) research team at the Yousef Jameel Science and Technology Research Center, led by Hassan Azzazy, professor of chemistry, has designed a novel test capable of detecting all genotypes of HCV in less than one hour, instead of days, and at one-tenth of the cost of traditional tests.
"Our test is sensitive and inexpensive, and it does not need sophisticated equipment," explained Azzazy, adding that detecting HCV during the first six months raises the recovery rate to 90 percent. "Little is done on the national level to combat the alarming prevalence of hepatitis C in Egypt."
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http://bikyamasr.com/61019/one-hour-hepatitis-c-diagnostic-test-helps-curb-egypt-epidemic/
HUDDINGE, Sweden, March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Study in previous non-responder Hepatitis C genotype-1 infected patients
Study in Hepatitis C genotype-4 infected patients
MedivirAB (omx:MVIR) a research based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases announces that its oral, once daily investigational protease inhibitor TMC435, developed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of Hepatitis C virus (HCV), has commenced patient dosing and started screening in two new phase III clinical trials, HPC3001 and HPC3011, respectively.
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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/medivir-announces-new-studies-in-phase-iii-program-for-tmc435-2012-03-13