Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States. An estimated 3.9 million (1.8%) Americans have been infected with HCV. The prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) among Hispanics is estimated at 2.1% which is significantly higher than the estimated prevalence of 1.8% in the general population, and the 1.5% of the non-Hispanic Caucasian population.

Chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and accounts for approximately 25,000 deaths annually. It is estimated from population-based studies that 40% of chronic liver disease is HCV-related, resulting in an estimated 8,000–10,000 deaths each year.

HCV- associated end-stage liver disease is the most frequent indication for liver transplantation among adults. Because most HCV-infected persons are aged 30–49 years, the number of deaths attributable to HCV-related chronic liver disease could increase substantially during the next 10–20 years as this group of infected persons reaches ages at which complications from chronic liver disease typically occur.

It is important for all health care practitioners to understand effective strategies to establish or exclude a diagnosis of HCV infection and to interpret tests correctly. Effective treatment rests importantly on recognition of the attributes that influence disease progression; they include host factors such as age, obesity, comorbidities (eg, chronic renal failure, coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]), and others. Viral properties such as genotype play an important role in treatment choices and outcomes. A thorough understanding of the pharmacology and pharmacodynamics of the agents used in treatment and management of side effects is also important.

LSH Medical Communications group's Hepatitis C marketing and educational efforts are not just limited only to the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Our clinical initiatives are also focus an in-depth discussions of special populations, including those with morbid obesity and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C (HCV)/hepatitis B (HBV) virus coinfection.