Study Shows Hep C Causing More Liver Damages
According to a new study from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, individuals who are infected with the hepatitis C virus are at risk for developing potentially life-threatening liver complications in the next few years.
They found that baby boomers accounted for 82 percent of Americans infected with hepatitis C, which is why the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recently recommended proposal for all baby boomers to be tested for the infection since an estimated 75 percent of individuals are unaware that they are infected giving it the name the “silent killer”. Researchers projected that by year 2015, an estimated 300,000 patients, mostly baby boomers, are likely to develop advanced liver disease.
“This alarming finding places additional stress on an already overburdened health care system, which will need to prepare for an increase in patients suffering from advanced liver disease,” said Ann Kwong, PhD, vice president and HCV franchise lead at Vertex. “It is critical to treat HCV patients before they develop costly and irreversible liver complications.”
Dr. Kwong recommends screening patients for the infection, since the best chance of curing the infection is before liver complications occur. Researchers noted that universal screenings for HCV will help diagnose more cases of HCV as well as lead to more liver complications tests.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the liver, usually producing swelling and, in many cases, permanent damage to liver tissues. A number of agents can cause hepatitis, including infectious diseases, chemical poisons, drugs and alcohol. Hepatitis C is a contagious viral disease that leads to serious, permanent liver damage, and in many cases, death.
The most common types of viral hepatitis are hepatitis A, B, and hepatitis C. Both hepatitis B and C can lead to serious, permanent liver damage, and in many cases, death.
There are two primary types of viral hepatitis, food-borne and blood-borne hepatitis. The former, which is spread through contaminated food and water, does not cause chronic liver disease. By contrast, bloodborne viral hepatitis may lead to long-term, persistent infections and chronic liver disease that has lethal consequences many years after infection.
Roughly five million adults in the U.S. have HCV. Chronic HCV is currently the main reason for liver transplantation and cause of liver cancer in the US.
How does liver damage occur in hepatitis C infection?
The presence of HCV in the liver triggers the human immune system, which leads to inflammation. Over time (usually decades), prolonged inflammation may cause scarring. Extensive scarring in the liver is called cirrhosis. When the liver becomes cirrhotic, it fails to perform its normal functions, (liver failure), and this leads to serious complications and even death. Cirrhotic livers also are more prone to become cancerous.
How is hepatitis C virus spread and how can transmission be prevented?
HCV is spread (transmitted) most efficiently through exposure to infected blood.
- The most common route of transmission is needles shared among users of illicit drugs.
- Accidental needle-sticks in health care workers also have transmitted the virus. The average risk of getting HCV infection from a stick with a contaminated needle is 1.8% (range 0% to 10%)
- Prior to 1992, some people acquired the HCV infection from transfusions of blood or blood products. Since 1992, all blood products have been screened for HCV, and cases of HCV due to blood transfusion now are extremely rare.
- HCV infection also can be passed from mother to unborn child. Approximately 4 of every 100 infants born to HCV-infected mothers become infected with the virus.
-A small number of cases are transmitted through sexual intercourse. The risk of transmission of HCV from an infected individual to a non-infected spouse or sexual partner without the use of condoms over a lifetime has been estimated to be between 1% and 4%.
- Finally, there have been some outbreaks of HCV when instruments or exposed to blood have been re-used without appropriate cleaning between patients.
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Source: Digestive Disease Week