Hepatitis C

Nearly 4 million Americans are estimated to be infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). That is more than 3 times those with HIV/AIDS, more than 5 times those with Parkinson's disease, and more than 10 times those with multiple sclerosis. Many people with HCV do not know that they have the virus. This is unfortunate, because HCV can seriously and silently damage the liver. Often, there are no symptoms until the late stages of the disease. These days, many people are diagnosed after a routine blood test reveals that their liver enzymes are elevated, and further tests show that the virus is in their blood. If you know you have HCV, you can get the treatment you need that may help you overcome the virus and reduce the damage to your liver. Hepatitis C is not an easy disease to treat. A single course of interferon, or interferon plus ribavirin, may not work in getting rid of the virus. Sometimes, another course of a different interferon may be necessary to help eliminate the virus and reduce the damage to your liver.

There are approximately 400 million people infected with the Hepatitis C Virus worldwide. An estimated 75% to 85% are chronic and have symptoms. Hepatitis C is one of the most important causes of liver disease; and, sadly enough has become the most common reason for liver transplants in the United States. You may be one of the 5 million people in the United States who suffers from HCV.

An estimated 20% of those develop cirrhosis, liver cancer, or end-stage liver disease. The good news is this disease progresses very slowly. This leaves us with time to decide on the best treatments available. We are here to help you find the answers, and search out your options. Our Website has a collection of the latest medical news and clinical information on this disease including reports from recent conferences, news articles, Web searches, and links to other related sources on the Web.