 Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver, which is the largest gland in the body. Hepatitis inflammation can interfere with the body's normal liver functions such as the removal of toxins. Hepatitis can be acute (lasting from 1 to 6 months) or chronic (long-term). Chronic hepatitis can eventually result in liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver failure, or in rare cases liver cancer. Hepatitis C is now the most common chronic blood-borne viral infection in the United States. A small percentage of people who become infected with this virus are able to clear it completely from their systems without any treatment. This means they no longer have hepatitis and cannot infect others with it. Unfortunately, the majority of people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) do go on to develop long-term effects from this disease. Unlike hepatitis A and B, there currently is no vaccine available for hepatitis C. There is also no cure for hepatitis C. This disease is primarily treated using prescription antiviral medications such as interferon alfa-2a (brand name Riferon-A), interferon alfa-2b (Intron-A), interferon alfacon-1 (Infergen), peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys), peginterferon alfa-2b (Peg-Intron), and Ribavirin (Rebetol, Copegus). Hepatitis C may be treated with a single drug such as interferon or pegylated interferon, or a combination of drugs adding ribavirin to one of the other drugs. Treatment is often difficult due to the side effects of the medications, the need for lower doses due to certain health issues, and the fact that many people simply stop taking their medication. Even after completing treatment, there are still people who relapse or who have not responded to the treatment. Therefore, treatment is typically reserved for people with HCV who are most likely to develop cirrhosis. People with mild cases of HCV tend to try other measures first rather than taking prescription medications as soon as they are diagnosed. These measures include avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy diet, exercise, and receiving periodic monitoring of their condition by health care professionals. In severe cases, liver transplantation may be the only option. Liver transplantation is a surgical procedure that replaces a diseased liver with a donor liver. After undergoing a liver transplant, most people are able to live normal or near-normal lives with a few restrictions or possible complications such as the need for life-long medical care. For instance, once the transplant is complete, people receive medications called immunosuppressants. These prescription medications slow or suppress the immune system to prevent it from rejecting the new liver. Examples of immunosuppressants include prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), mycophenolate mofetil (Cellcept), and tacrolimus (Prograf). Most people must take these medications for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, liver transplantation is not a cure for hepatitis C. Most donated livers eventually become infected with HCV. People with hepatitis C are also at greater risk of developing cirrhosis within five years of the transplant. However, treatment with HCV medications can help prevent HCV from damaging the donated liver. You and your doctor can work together to determine the right treatment for you based on your particular symptoms and pattern of disease. Lifestyle changes along with the appropriate therapy can improve the quality of life for a person with hepatitis C. Sources:
Diseases and Conditions, "Hepatitis C." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 3/19/2007.
Drug Facts and Comparisons, Facts & Comparisons, 2006.Medical Encyclopedia, "Hepatitis C." http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus. MedlinePlus. Last accessed 3/19/2007.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006. Last accessed 3/19/2007.
Viral Hepatitis C, "Frequently Asked Questions About Hepatitis C." http://www.cdc.gov. Last accessed 3/19/2007.
This answer prepared 3/19/2007.
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