Larger gains sought in hepatitis C treatment

Despite some success, the viral disease is still the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. Feb. 14, 2005.

Washington -- There are still gains to be made in the treatment of hepatitis C, and a recent congressional hearing on the disease as well as a National Institutes of Health workshop to discuss a vaccine to fight this liver-ravaging condition hold out hope for more progress.

"In the last 10 years, we've quadrupled the treatment response rate," said Michael Bernstein, MD, director of the Hepatitis Clinic at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y.

There is now an overall success rate of about 55%, researchers say. Treatment with long-acting interferon or a combination of interferon and other antiviral drugs has made the difference.

"We are still, however, left with those unfortunate 45% who don't respond," said Adrian M. DiBisceglie, MD, chief of hepatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

And that's a lot of people. Hepatitis C is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. About 4 million Americans are chronically infected, and most are not even aware of this threat to their health.

Primary care physicians have a major role to play in diagnosing the infection, so that those who can benefit from treatment will receive it in time to prevent extensive liver damage, Dr. Bernstein said. The AMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have collaborated on materials targeted to doctors and patients to help with early diagnosis.

"Hepatitis C was only identified 15 years ago, so we still have much to learn about this disease," said Rep. Tom Davis, (R, Va.), chair of the House Committee on Government Reform. Davis held a hearing on hepatitis C Dec. 14, 2004.