Hepatitis C is a viral infection that primarily affects the liver. It is spread through contact with the blood of a person infected with the hepatitis C virus. Some people can clear the virus on their own, however, more than half develop a chronic condition, which means they experience long-term symptoms.
Treatment for hepatitis C is important to avoid serious complications. Cirrhosis of the liver and cancer of the liver are two examples of complications from hepatitis C. Fortunately, even for chronic hepatitis C patients, significant advancements in medical research and technology have made it possible for patients to be cured from hepatitis C.
Here’s a treatment overview for hepatitis C and where you can go in Austin, Texas, for the most comprehensive hepatitis C treatment.
Treatment Options for Hepatitis C
Treatment for hepatitis C is individualized to the patient. Some of the treatments doctors prescribe include the following:
Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs)
- Direct-acting antiviral agents are oral medications that directly target the hepatitis C virus, inhibiting its replication and reducing viral load.
- Some commonly used direct-acting antiviral agents include sofosbuvir, ledipasvir, velpatasvir, glecaprevir, pibrentasvir, grazoprevir, and elbasvir.
- They are highly effective, with cure rates exceeding 95% for most patients.
- Patients are shown to tolerate direct-acting antiviral agents well compared to interferon-based therapy.
- Direct-acting antiviral agents can cure acute and chronic hepatitis C infections.
Interferon-Based Therapy
Interferon therapy was the standard treatment for hepatitis C before the advent of DAAs.
- Interferon-based treatments rely on pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN), which activates the immune system to fight the virus.
- Interferon-based therapy usually involves combining ribavirin, an antiviral medication.
- The downside of interferon-based therapy is that it can cause significant adverse side effects.
Liver Transplantation
For patients with advanced liver disease or liver failure due to chronic hepatitis C, liver transplantation may be considered as a treatment option.
- A liver transplant involves a donor liver replacing the patient’s diseased liver.
- Prior to transplantation, it is important to achieve viral suppression through DAA-based therapy to prevent recurrence of hepatitis C in the transplanted liver.
How Long is Treatment for Hepatitis C?
The duration of hepatitis C treatment can vary depending on several factors, which include the HCV genotype and patient’s liver health. In general, treatment can last anywhere from 8 to 24 weeks. Shorter treatment durations are often seen with newer-generation direct-acting antiviral medicine, while longer durations may be required for patients with advanced liver disease or specific viral variants.
Effectiveness of Treatment
The remarkable success of DAA-based therapy has drastically improved the prognosis for individuals with hepatitis C. These medications have demonstrated high cure rates across all HCV genotypes, including those that were traditionally considered difficult to treat.
Cure rates are typically measured by sustained virologic response (SVR), which means that the virus is undetectable in the blood for at least 12 weeks after completing treatment.
Management and Monitoring
After initiating treatment, regular monitoring is essential to evaluate the patient’s response and detect any potential side effects from treatment. The patient should adhere to the prescribed regimen. Blood tests will be conducted to assess a patient’s liver health and monitor the viral load, which helps assess the effectiveness of treatment.
Hepatitis C Treatment in Austin, TX
If you are living with hepatitis C, the gastroenterologists at Austin Gastroenterology (AG) recommend being proactive in managing your condition. We will create a treatment plan that includes not just medical treatment but also lifestyle recommendations that can help improve your treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Our dedicated gastroenterology team is here to guide you through effective treatment options for hepatitis C. To schedule an appointment, call our office nearest you or use our online request form. We look forward to offering you the highest quality treatments for hepatitis C!
