Eltrombopag Effective for Hepatitis C Patients With Low Blood-Platelet Counts

December 28, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

For patients with hepatitis C, having a low blood platelet count is a frequent complication associated with advanced disease. This problem is compounded by the fact that standard antiviral treatment for the disease can further reduce platelet numbers to dangerously low levels, effectively denying these patients the treatment they urgently need. Now, research published in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that a new drug, eltrombopag, appears to significantly boost platelet counts, opening the door to effective treatment.

Filed Under: Hepatitis
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Can liver cirrhosis be partially cured?

October 10, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

The diffusion of hepatitis C virus infection worldwide is astonishing. Liver cirrhosis is present in at least 10-20% of these infected patients, with highly increasing health care and emotional costs. In patients with compensated (early stage) hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis, antiviral combined therapy offers an interesting rate of response, ending in viral clearance. Unfortunately post-therapy data on different aspects of the illness, such as the residual liver function, measured as Total Overnight Salivary Caffeine Assessment (TOSCA, a liver test of microsomal function), and hepatic hemodynamics to indirectly evaluate the portal hypertension, measured as the Resistive Index of Splenic Artery (SARI) at Ultra Sound Doppler are still lacking, because to date only the survival rate and hepato-carcinoma appearance have been studied in depth.

Filed Under: Hepatitis, Liver Ailments
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Stanford researchers find way to fight treacherous hepatitis B

October 1, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

STANFORD, Calif. - One in four people who are chronically infected with hepatitis B will die from its impact if untreated, but a team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has identified the most cost-effective way of fighting this treacherous infection.

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Possible Hepatitis C vaccine

September 4, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects up to 500,000 people in the UK alone, many of the infections going undiagnosed. It is the single biggest cause of people requiring a liver transplant in Britain. Now scientists have found monoclonal antibodies which may make a successful vaccine a reality, researchers heard today (Tuesday 4 September 2007) at the Society for General Microbiologys 161st Meeting at the University of Edinburgh, UK, which runs from 3-6 September 2007.

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Early Response to Hepatitis C Treatment Predicts Outcomes in HIV Co-Infected Patients

August 15, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

By Will Boggs, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Aug 15 (updated Aug 23) - Early and rapid virological response of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to treatment with interferon and ribavirin predicts sustained virological response in patients co-infected with HIV and HCV, according to findings published in the August issue of Gut.

Filed Under: AIDS - HIV, Hepatitis
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Hep C and Non-Hodkins Lymphoma: A connection

July 28, 2007 by admin · Leave a Comment

Filed under: Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, Liver Cancer, Daily news

Filed Under: Hepatitis, Hodgkins & Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
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Cholesterol Drugs Fight Hepatitis C

July 10, 2006 by admin · Leave a Comment

Cholesterol-lowering statin drugs — especially Lescol — fight hepatitis C virus, Japanese researchers report.

Except for Pravachol, which seems to have no effect on hepatitis C, other statins also have some antihepatitis C activity. But in a new lab test designed to measure the drugs’ ability to fight hepatitis C, Lescol was the most potent.

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Health Tip: Preventing Hepatitis A

June 29, 2006 by admin · Leave a Comment

Washing hands can help stop its spread

(HealthDay News) — The hepatitis A virus can infect both children and adults, but a vaccine is available to protect everyone over the age of 1. The virus is passed from person to person, often through oral or manual contact.

Filed Under: Hepatitis
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