NAPWA

Treatment with a combination of pegylated alfa- interferon and ribavirinAn antiviral drug which is effective against a range of viruses including herpes, the hepatitis C virus and several strains of influenza. can result in a cure – complete clearance of the virusA small infective organism which is incapable of reproducing outside a host cell.. The goal of HCVHepatitis C virus. treatment is to get the virus to undetectable levels and sustain the viral suppression. The treatment period is usually around one year. Pegylated interferon is injected weekly and the ribavirin is taken twice-daily in tablet form.

If your HCV viral loadA measurement of the quantity of HIV RNA in the blood. Viral load blood test results are expressed as the number of copies (of HIV) per milliliter of blood plasma. is undetectable six months after finishing treatment, this is called a sustained virologic response (SVR). Studies in people with hepatitis C alone, show that the vast majority of people who experience a SVR remain undetectable when followed-up for many years. However, in rare cases, people who achieve an undetectable viral load during treatment may get a viral rebound in the first six months after treatment stops. Even if this is the case and the undetectable viral load is not sustained, there can be benefits of treatment such as improvement in the condition of their liverA large organ, located in the upper right abdomen, which assists in digestion by metabolising carbohydrates, fats and proteins, stores vitamins and minerals, produces amino acids, bile and cholesterol, and removes toxins from the blood..

This is particularly important in people who have significant liver disease or
cirrhosis.

The response rate to treatment largely depends upon the strain[HIV strain] Any subgroup of the HIV species. Because HIV mutates very easily, there are many different strains (and may be multiple strains within a single person). or genotype of HCV. There are at least six major genotypes of HCV, and genotypes one to three are the most common in Australia. Genotype 1 is the hardest to clear, with between 25 and 40% of people with HIV/HCV having an SVR. Genotypes 2 and 3 can be treated successfully in around 60% of people with HIV/HCV. Most people with HCV who were born in Australia have either genotype 1 or 3. For those born in Asia or elsewhere other genotypes are more common. Your doctor can test to see which genotype you have and you can factor this into your decisionmaking about treatment.

If HCV disease has progressed to the point where the liver can no longer function, a liver transplant is the only treatment.

Treat Yourself Right