Piken article 4 / 3-1-06
My friends are all talking about the silent killer
Hepatitis C. What is it and do I need to be checked?
Hepatitis
C is a virus, which most often was obtained via blood transfusions prior to
1980, needle stick exposure or free life experimentation in the 70's and
80's. Anyone who participated or partnered with a participant may have
been exposed. The virus is slow acting and 65% of exposures will lead to
a chronic low-grade infection. Previously we asked our doctors to check our
liver enzymes for damage as a screen for the test but now we know the virus is
so incipient that even people with normal blood tests may develop cirrhosis an
end stage liver disease. Current recommendations call for an antibody test to
determine exposure and then an actual viral count to confirm infection.
The good news is that our treatment successes are becoming more
frequent with certain strains of the virus having a 90% permanent cure
rate. Reduction in liver damage and therefore the need for transplantation
and likelihood of cancer can also be achieved in the vast majority of
patients.
If you fit the profile for this disease ask your doctor to test
you. Your life may well depend upon the answer.
Edward Piken,
M.D.
Member, South Bay
Independent Physicians Medical Group, Inc.