HCV Weekend Reading - The Changing Landscape of HCV Treatment

HCV Weekend Reading - The Changing Landscape of HCV Treatment

Hello folks welcome to yet another gorgeous weekend, hope you didn't work too hard this week.

We begin with a few articles written by your favorite bloggers, followed by two learning activities covering an array of HCV topics. 

Blog Updates

Sick and Tired of Feeling Sick and Tired
By Daryl Luster - September 10, 2016
If I have said it once I have said it a million times, and although that might be an exaggeration, it sure feels that way sometimes. You may have said it too,...

Why People with Hepatitis C Should Stick to a Low Fat Diet for Liver
By Jenelle Marie Davis - September 9, 2016
What does the liver do? Although the liver interacts with many of the organs in the abdomen, the liver has three main jobs. The first job is that the liver cleans the...

I Don’t Feel Like It with Hep C
By Karen Hoyt - September 8, 2016
There are times when you just don’t feel like doing something. It may be something important or something small. When you’re not in the mood, it feels like a burden. I personally...

NAIRHHA Day brings national and local attention to the HIV and viral hepatitis needs of African immigrants living in the U.S.

By NVHR Staff
Unfortunately, hepatitis C remains endemic in many African countries, and countless African immigrant and refugee community bear the burden of these silent epidemics. 

Has hepatitis C ever left you feeling stuck?
By Matt Starr
I spent the better part of the last decade with physical and emotional pain from hepatitis C and advanced liver disease. I remember, during a post-transplant emotional descent, how all my trials seemed like they were causing too much worry and trouble for my family and loved ones. I began to think that just ending it all would be best for everyone.

When government block's access to care...
By Greg Jefferys
Sweden and the Ukraine have not much in common, one is a poor ex-Soviet nation struggling with getting democracy working properly the other is a wealthy western nation with a long history of democracy.

It's a year since I took my last lot of tablets. A whole year.
By Grace Campbell
This morning a memory popped up on my Facebook feed from this time a a year ago. It was a link to a blog entry here called "One Day More". I had written it when I had one day left on Viekira Pak, the drug that cured me.

Australian news coverage exposes corruption
By Greg Jefferys
In Australia right now there is a lot of news coverage about some politicians who were getting payments from property developers through a fake "not for profit" organisation. One politician was getting payments from a Chinese company with close ties with the Chinese government. Some of these politicians are facing criminal charges because we all know that property developers only give money to politicians to gain favours.

Do You Forget Your Daily Hepatitis B Antiviral? Why We “Forget” Our Meds, and How to Improve Compliance
Your daily antiviral pill can save your life when you have liver damage from chronic hepatitis B. Entecavir or tenofovir (Viread) quickly reduce the amount of virus in your liver and the damage it causes.

Off The Cuff

Exercise can cancel out the booze? Association ≠ causation
What the study, in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, stated was “We found a direct association between alcohol consumption and cancer mortality risk.”  And – repeat after me –  association ≠ causation.  So a statement of causation – such as “exercise can cancel out the booze” – is an overstatement.

Why don’t more doctors apologize for their mistakes?
A recent JAMA article about disclosing medical error described a hypothetical situation involving a dermatologist who, after completing skin biopsies on two patients, discovered that the instruments had not been sterilized. He wondered if he should tell the patients and what he should say.

Updates Around The Web

Featured in this edition of Weekend Reading is a learning activity that provides a window into current medications used to treat HCV, testing, availability, drug-drug interactions and other issues related to treatment. Although the CME is aimed at health care professionals and maybe a bit clinical the video modules were easy to follow. The three part program; The Changing Landscape of HCV Treatment is available for your viewing pleasure over at ViralEd.  Follow the links provided below to view the program; with a few suggestions for your consideration

Main Menu - Three Part Program
Click here to launch the full three part program  

Index - Part 3
HCV Management And Treatment Clinical Practice Videos
Ten video presentations, each covering a critical phase of HCV management and treatment.

Highlights
HCV  Management Pre-Treatment
What's In, What's Out
Fibrosis and Non-invasive Fibrosis Test
Basic Labs
Health Care Provider - Getting HCV Therapy Approved

Genotypes
Selecting The Best HCV Therapy: Genotype 1

Selecting The Best HCV Therapy: Non - 1 Genotype 
Genotypes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Monitoring Patients On HCV Therapy
Key Information Needed To Decide How To Treat A Person With HCV

Menu - List of all ten videos here.

Index - Part 2
Case-Based Panel Discussions;  case-based panel discussions that review and discuss current clinical data and practice strategies in HCV treatment; a great discussion about Genotype 3

Index - Part 1
Thought Leaders Interviews; Thought leader interview featuring a variety of backgrounds and practice approaches in HCV management and treatment.

Begin here....

In June "ViralEd" also released "HCV Virtual Patient" an easy to follow video CME with a look at different case scenarios. This activity is a helpful starting point for people who failed treatment, have cirrhosis or want to learn more about current treatment options for various HCV genotypes. After each video module participants can either answer the questions, or click on Curbside Consult.

The Weekly.Bull
For over a decade HepCBC a Canadian non-profit organization has published an incredible monthly newsletter offering awareness, personal stories and basic information about HCV. Recently the highly successful newsletter has been retired, here is The Final Edition of the hepc.bull, however without fail a new publication "The Weekly.Bull" will continue to serve us well. Here is the first issue; What Do You Say? written by C.D. Mazoff webmaster and managing editor at HCV Advocate.

In Case You Missed It

Resistance to HCV Treatment Can Still Be a Challenge
The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus has been revolutionized by the development of direct-acting antivirals, but a small fraction of patients do experience resistance and treatment failure

Illinois expands Medicaid access to hepatitis C drugs
The Sun Herald-59 minutes ago
Illinois is allowing more hepatitis C patients on Medicaid to access drugs that can ... According to state data, 12,000 Illinoisans covered by Medicaid had hepatitis ...

5th International Symposium on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users
INHSU 2016 brings together research from around the world to address this issue, forming evidence-based recommendations for the optimal management of Hepatitis C in substance users. 
The full conference program, with links to abstracts, is available online

Coverage - HIV and Hepatitis
​INHSU 2016: Effective Antiviral Treatment Reduces Fatigue in People with Hepatitis C
Fatigue -- a common symptom among people living with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection -- is associated with liver inflammation and fibrosis, but antiviral therapy that leads to a cure significantly reduces the likelihood of fatigue, according to a Danish study presented at the 5th International Symposium on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users (INHSU 2016) this week in Oslo

Coming Soon

EASL- AASLD Special Conference
New perspectives in hepatitis C virus infection - The roadmap for cure
EASL will live stream the upcoming HCV Recommendations session to take place in Paris, France, on Thursday 22 September 2016. If you can't travel to Paris, you can still take part online!

Abstracts released for the upcoming European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Special Conference
​View Now

View All Updates: Conference Reports

Enjoy the weekend!
Tina

HEP Fall 2016 Newsletter - Hepatitis C activist Shirley Barger is fighting so everyone can access treatment

HEP Fall 2016 - Special Issue
In every issue of HEP, you'll find the hottest topics of interest to our readers along with cutting-edge health information.

Also Available On: ISSUU

Newsletter
Fall 2016

Feature
Paying It Forward
Hepatitis C activist Shirley Barger is fighting so everyone can access treatment.
By Tim Murphy

From the Editor
With a Little Help From My Friends
As a result of learning how to advocate for herself, Shirley Barger became an HCV advocate for all people living with the virus.
By Oriol R. Gutierrez Jr.

News
Hep C Treatment Access Increases Nationwide
Massachusetts is the latest state to lift restrictions on hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment under its Medicaid program.
By Casey Halter

Telemedicine: The Future of Hepatitis C Care?
A bill introduced in Congress hopes to implement a video clinic platform to help expand hep C treatment access across the country.
By Casey Halter

HHS Plans to Combat the U.S. Opioid Epidemic
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced an expansion to the government’s official plan to combat the opioid epidemic.
By Casey Halter

Hep C Testing Could Soon Be Easier
Currently, testing for hepatitis C virus (HCV) involves two steps.
By Casey Halter

War on Drugs Fuels Spread of HIV, Hep C and TB
Mass imprisonment of drug users worldwide, contributes to the spread of HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses and tuberculosis.
By Casey Halter

Treatment News
FDA OKs Gilead’s Epclusa for All Genotypes
This is the first approved therapy that treats all six major genotypes of the virus.
By Benjamin Ryan

Promise for AbbVie’s All-Genotype Treatment
AbbVie’s combination treatment of ABT-493 and ABT-530 has boasted high cure rates among all genotypes of hepatitis C virus.
By Benjamin Ryan

Treat Hep C, Free Up Livers for Transplants
Expanding the testing and treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) would free up many livers for transplantation.
By Benjamin Ryan

Hep C Is Globe’s Biggest Infectious Disease Killer
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) now kills more Americans than any other infectious disease.
By Benjamin Ryan

Good Second Chances for Hep C Cures
A second try at hep C treatment likely offers an excellent chance of success at a cure.
By Benjamin Ryan

Begin here....

September Updates
View This Months Viral Hepatitis Newsletters From Around The Web:
September HCV Newsletters and Headlines

September HCV Newsletters and Headlines

September HCV Newsletters and Headlines
Hello everyone, welcome to the start of September, fall is in the air.

Sit back and enjoy this months issue of HCV newsletters, blog updates with a look at todays headlines. 

News & Research

All You Need to Know: September’s Crucial Verdict on the Sofosbuvir Patent Saga
Some countries have already protested Gilead’s patent on sofosbuvir. For example, China and Ukraine have rejected the patent on the pro-drug form of sofosbuvir. In Egypt, the primary patent application was reject even as a company named Pharco developed a generic version of sofosbuvir and applied for WHO pre-qualification for it. More patent oppositions on sofosbuvir have been filed in Argentina, Brazil, France, Russia and Thailand....

Women at greater risk for developing ALD, liver injury vs. men - Healio

Women  may be more likely to develop alcoholic liver disease, even among those who drink less alcohol than men...

Competition Works Best to Control Drug Prices

If you haven’t heard about EpiPen’s unconscionable price increases, you have probably been in an ashram.

Liver transplants' effect on patients' health insurance post-Medicaid expansion

September 2, 2016
Findings published in Liver Transplantation suggest the number of patients who switched from private insurance to Medicaid post-liver transplant was greater in Medicaid expansion states than non-expansion ones.

Trending News Today: Hepatitis C Drug Access Lawsuit by Mumia Abu-Jamal Denied
The opioid epidemic has been an ongoing concern with the synthetic opioid, fentanyl, Prince's cause of death being the latest. However, Ohio officials have ...

Jerry Bagel: Starting the Treatment Process for Plaque Psoriasis
MD Magazine - Sept 2
Or for example if someone has hepatitis C or Crohn's disease, you could opt for another avenue of treatment. “You need to clearly know the adverse event profile ...

US veterans have increased frequency of HCC at autopsy

United States military veterans had an increased frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma at autopsy compared with the general population, according to recent findings published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Cancer screening guidelines 'largely inconsistent' for solid-organ transplant recipients

Six guidelines recommended screening for liver malignancies in kidney transplant recipients, especially those with cirrhosis, liver disease, or hepatitis B or C..

RNA Assessment Predicts Hepatitis C Relapse Two Weeks into Treatment

Aug 31, 2016 | Caitlyn Fitzpatrick
Published in the Journal of Hepatology, the results showed that hepatitis C RNA levels in people with HCV genotype 3 who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) were significantly lower during the first four weeks of SOF/RBV treatment than the levels observed in those who ended up relapsing.

Exploring Treatment Failure Among Hepatitis C Patients
Although direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV), a small fraction of patients still experience treatment failure

Studying Faldaprevir and Deleobuvir Use in NS3/4A and NS5B Amino-acid Variants of Hepatitis C
Faldaprevir and deleobuvir resistance-associated variants (RAVs) are more common among virologic failures than at baseline in patients with treatment emergent NS3/4A and NS5B amino-acid variants of hepatitis C virus (HCV), according to the results of a recent study. Published on the website PLOSOne, the study was conducted by Kristi Berger, PhD, of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, in Ridgefield Connecticut, and colleagues.

U. of Minnesota sues Gilead
The Biological SCENE-16 hours ago
The University of Minnesota filed a complaint in federal court on Aug. 29 charging that Gilead Sciences' multi-billion-dollar hepatitis C drugs Sovaldi, Harvoni, ...

Colorado to expand coverage for Hep C patients, but some still won’t get the expensive drug
By Jennifer Brown | jbrown@denverpost.com
Colorado will increase access to a life-saving, expensive hepatitis C drug, covering needy patients in earlier stages of liver disease than were previously considered, the state Medicaid department said Thursday.

Publication Updates

Clinical Liver Disease

View recently published articles in the latest issue of Clinical Liver Disease (CLD).
CLD is the official digital educational resource from the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Of Interest - Velpatasvir and sofosbuvir: How will we use a new drug when the old agents work well?
The rapid development of highly efficacious and well-tolerated regimens for treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been a remarkable advance. Direct-acting antiviral combinations are available for each of the six HCV genotypes (GTs). Because sustained virological response (SVR) rates are greater than 95% for most patient populations, it may be questioned why new regimens are under development.​
Watch a video presentation of this article

Begin here...

Journal Of Hepatology

Resurrection of response-guided therapy for sofosbuvir combination therapies

Harel Dahari, Phillippe Halfon, Scott J. Cotler

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2016.05.028

Journal of Hepatology, Vol. 65, Issue 3, p462–464

The concept of response-guided therapy (RGT) was developed to limit duration of exposure to interferon (IFN) alpha-based treatment in order to reduce side effects while optimizing response rates.

The recent approval of sofosbuvir (SOF) and other direct acting antivirals (DAAs) has resulted in a shift in the treatment paradigm [[4]x[4]Feld, J.J., Kowdley, K.V., Coakley, E., Sigal, S., Nelson, D.R., Crawford, D. et al. Treatment of HCV with ABT-450/r-ombitasvir and dasabuvir with ribavirin. N Engl J Med. 2014; 370: 1594–1603

Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (322)See all References, [5]x[5]Koff, R.S. Review article: the efficacy and safety of sofosbuvir, a novel, oral nucleotide NS5B polymerase inhibitor, in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014; 39: 478–487

Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (56)See all References]. Sofosbuvir-based regimens achieve high (>90%) sustained-virological response (SVR or cure) rates with limited side effects and relatively short duration of therapy (8–24 weeks). The initial clinical trials data with SOF did not indicate an association between on-treatment virus levels and SVR due to high cure rates, lack of on-treatment viral breakthrough, and rapid viral decline kinetics that give rise to much earlier viral suppression compared to IFN ± ribavirin (RBV) therapy [6x[6]Pawlotsky, J.M. New hepatitis C therapies: the toolbox, strategies, and challenges. Gastroenterology. 2014; 146: 1176–1192

Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (203)See all References[6]. In the initial clinical trials with SOF, HCV RNA suppression by week 4 was nearly universal and was not associated with cure, including patients infected with HCV genotype-3 who are currently considered the most difficult to treat [[7]x[7]Lawitz, E., Mangia, A., Wyles, D., Rodriguez-Torres, M., Hassanein, T., Gordon, S.C. et al. Sofosbuvir for previously untreated chronic hepatitis C infection. N Engl J Med. 2013; 368: 1878–1887

Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (19)See all References, [8]x[8]Wyles, D.L., Nelson, D.R., Swain, M.G., Gish, R.G., Ma, J., McNally, J. et al. On treatment HCV RNA as a predictor of virologic response in sofosbuvir-containing regimens for genotype 2/3 HCV infection: Analysis of the FISSION, POSITRON, and FUSION studies. Hepatology. 2013; 58: 140ASee all References]. Subsequent studies did not find an association between early viral kinetics and treatment outcomes [[9]x[9]Zeuzem, S., Dusheiko, G.M., Colombo, M., Flisiak, R., Hyland, R.H., Illeperuma, A. et al. Early viral kinetics do not predict treatment outcome with sofosbuvir + ribavirin for 12 or 24 weeks in HCV genotype 2/3 patients in the Valence trial. J Hepatol. 2014; 60: S452

Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | Scopus (8)See all References, [10]x[10]Hezode, C., Chevaliez, S., Scoazec, G., Bouvier-Alias, M., Ruiz, I., Francois, M. et al. On-treatment viral kinetics do not predict SVR in patients with advanced liver disease receiving sofosbuvir in combination with daclatasvir or simeprevir for 12 weeks. J Hepatol. 2015; 62: S654–S655

Abstract | Full Text PDFSee all References]. As a result, on-treatment HCV RNA measurements (weeks 2 and/or 4) are currently recommended by both the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) (www.easl.eu) and the AASLD/IDSA (www.hcvguidelines.org) only as a means to monitor adherence and a fixed duration of DAA therapy has eclipsed the RGT approach....

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New England Journal Of Medicine

Review Article

Treatment of Patients with Cirrhosis
August 25, 2016 | P.S. Ge and B.A. Runyon
N Engl J Med 2016;375:767-77. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1504367
This guide to the practical treatment of patients with cirrhosis summarizes recent developments. It includes advice on medical management, invasive procedures, nutrition, prevention, and strategies to protect the cirrhotic liver from harm.
Full Text - Download PDF

Newsletters

Welcome to this months collection of viral hepatitis newsletters.

HCV Advocate
HCV Advocate Newsletter
The HCV Advocate newsletter is a valuable resource designed to provide the hepatitis C community with monthly updates on events, clinical research, and education.
In addition check out; HCV Medications Blog with easy to find information; listed clearly by HCV genotype. ​Easy to navigate, easy to read.

Newsletter
September Issue
HCV Advocate Clinical Trials Reference Guide is now available to search for hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV/HCV coinfected trials. There are instructions on the front page of the Reference Guide to search for clinical trials. The Reference Guide will be updated on a regular basis.

A companion piece—How to Evaluate a Clinical Trial—provides simple tips to help decide whether a particular clinical trial is right for you.

HealthWise—The Tragic Tale of Hemophilia, Hepatitis, and HIV
by Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Lucinda probes the history of ‘bad blood’ scandals, and the people and communities affected.

Under the Umbrella—No Man is an Island:
Part 1, Hepatitis C in Rural Southern Indiana by Matthew Zielske. Matthew discusses the HIV and hepatitis C outbreak in Indiana and the community response.

HCV Advocate Monthly Pipeline has been updated with more information about the results from Gilead’s phase 2 study of sofosbuvir, velpatasvir and voxilaprevir to treat hepatitis C.

What’s Up!
We have updated the following fact sheets:
HCSP Fact Sheets—HCV Populations:
African Americans and hepatitis C
Genotype 2
Genotype 3
Easy C:
What is Drug Resistance?
Easy B’s
HBV Transmission and Prevention – the entire series of our hepatitis B fact sheets have been reviewed and updated.
HCV Medications Blog has been updated with information about Viekira XR a time-released formulation of Viekira Pak that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Begin here.....

HEP

HEP Fall 2016 - Special Issue
In every issue of HEP, you'll find the hottest topics of interest to our readers along with cutting-edge health information.

Hep C Treatment Access Increases Nationwide
Telemedicine: The Future of Hepatitis C Care?
Hep C Testing Could Soon Be Easier
View all topics
Begin here...

AGA Institute
GI & Hepatology News

GI & Hepatology News is the official newspaper of the AGA Institute and provides the gastroenterologist with timely and relevant news and commentary about clinical developments and about the impact of health-care policy. The newspaper is led by an internationally renowned board of editors.

This Months Issue
September 2016 PDF
Deals likely the way to pay for HCV drugs

‘I still think the challenge we are going to face now is it’s still not gotten down to a price that’s low enough to really make it affordable to cover a million people in the Medicaid program.’

Clues found to fibrosis progression in chronic HCV

The investigators wrote that the association between genotype 3 and cirrhosis should be “interpreted cautiously” because of the low number of these patients in their study.

8 weeks of sofosbuvir/ledipasvir found real world effective

Clinical trials of sofosbuvir, ledipasvir/sofosbuvir, and paritaprevir/ritonavir/ombitasvir and dasabuvir (PrOD) have reported SVR rates well above 90%, “with the exception of certain subgroups, such as patients with Child’s B or C cirrhosis and those infected with genotype 3 HCV,” the researchers noted. However, older interferon-based regimens did not perform as well in the real world as in trials, and “it is unclear if this is the case for current interferon-free regimens.”

Begin here......

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable 

The National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable is a broad coalition working to fight, and ultimately end, the hepatitis B and hepatitis C epidemics. We seek an aggressive response from policymakers, public health officials, medical and health care providers, the media, and the general public through our advocacy, education, and technical assistance.

NVHR Newsletter - August 2016

Join us for Friday, September 9, 2016 from 1:00–2:30 pm Eastern for a webinar highlighting the work of advocates who have led successful efforts to expand access to hepatitis C treatment in their states.

Begin here...

HCV Action

HCV Action brings together hepatitis C health professionals from across the patient pathway with the pharmaceutical industry and patient representatives to share expertise and good practice.

Latest Newsletter

HCV Action: August 2016

Hepatitis C in the UK 2016 report released

Begin here...

The New York City Hepatitis C Task Force

NYC Hep C Task Force
The New York City Hepatitis C Task Force is a city-wide network of service providers and advocates concerned with hepatitis C and related issues. The groups come together to learn, share information and resources, network, and identify hepatitis C related needs in the community. Committees form to work on projects in order to meet needs identified by the community.

September 2016 Hep Free NYC Newsletter

September News: Hepatitis & Liver Cancer Resources, Hep C Screening & Linkage to Care Trainings, NYC Conference on African Immigrant Health

Begin here....

The American Liver Foundation
Liver Lowdown is the monthly general interest e-newsletter of the American Liver Foundation.

Help ALF Celebrate 40!

2016 marks our 40th Anniversary as the only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to liver health and disease. Join us in raising awareness and eliminating the stigma as part of our virtual celebration!

Latest Newsletter

August 2016

Additional Resources

Brochures & Handouts

Education Resources

Support Services

Helpful Links

FINAL HepCBC’s MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
The hepc.bull, has been “Canada’s hepatitis C journal” since the late 1990’s and was published nonstop since 2001. The last print edition was Issue #200: Summer, 2016.

It contained the latest research results, government policy changes, activities and campaigns, articles by patients and caregivers, and a list of support groups plus other useful links–all of which can now be found on this website and on our Facebook page: Hepcbc Hepatitis C Education-Prevention.

Download The Final Edition of the hepc.bull

Blog Updates

Creating a World Free of Hepatitis C

by LUCINDA PORTERWelcome to my website and blog. My name is Lucinda Porter and I am a nurse committed to raising awareness about hepatitis C. I believe that we can create a world free of hepatitis C. We do this together, one step at a time.

New Entry

Crossroads

By Lucinda Porter

Lately, I feel like I am sitting at the crossroads of health, illness, life and death. These four concepts intersect all of our lives.

HEPATITISC.NET

Stay up to date on Hepatitis C news, hear from our patient advocates and physician experts. The HepatitisC.net Headlines will provide tips and tools for living with and managing Hepatitis C.

Read other recent HepatitisC.net headlines

Hep C Daily Blog

Why Is Hepatitis C Treatment So Expensive?

By Jenelle Marie Davis - September 1, 2016
It is estimated that there are over 3 million Americans living with hepatitis C at this very moment. Of course, there are millions more if you consider the entire world’s population.

READ MORE

Beginner’s Guide to Hepatitis C

By Karen Hoyt - August 31, 2016
So you’ve come here to learn about the hepatitis C virus. I’ll bet you’ve found that this can lead to that, and if you take this, then something else will happen.

READ MORE

Beginner’s Guide to Hepatitis C
By Karen Hoyt - August 31, 2016
So you’ve come here to learn about the hepatitis C virus. I’ll bet you’ve found that this can lead to that, and if you take this, then something else will happen. There is so much to learn in the beginning about the hepatitis C virus. Here are some tips to get you going and keep your focus as you learn about hep C and how it will affect your life.
READ MORE

How to Manage Ascites In Patients With Cirrhosis

By Jenelle Marie Davis - August 30, 2016
What is ascites? Ascites is the accumulation of fluid within the abdominal or peritoneal cavity. The fluid is typically serous fluid, which looks clear or very pale yellow. Ascites can exist in...

READ MORE

I Help C 

Karen Hoyt, is an inspirational woman, HCV advocate, and author who is committed to sharing information about hepatitis C. 

New Post

Take it Easy: Advice From My Sister

By Karen Hoyt

HEP
Your Guide To  Hepatitis 
Hep is an award-winning print and online brand for people living with and affected by viral hepatitis. Offering unparalleled editorial excellence since 2010, Hep and Hep Magazine are the go-to source for educational and social support for people living with hepatitis.

Latest Blog Updates
Health literacy's role in the HCV Treatment Cascade
By Matthew Zielske  

Hep C Treatment and Recovery: One Way Up 
By Connie M. Welch

Hepatitis C and Harmony
By Lucinda Porter
Getting Generic Harvoni Into Canada

By Greg Jefferys 

View All Blogs At Hep

The Hepatitis B Foundation

The Hepatitis B Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding a cure for hepatitis B and helping to improve the lives of those affected worldwide through research, education and patient advocacy.

HBV Blog

Advocates Raise Awareness About African Immigrants’ High Risk of Hepatitis B

By Christine Kukka
For years, public health advocates have struggled to educate both doctors and Asian-Americans about the high risk of hepatitis B that this ethnic group faces. It’s been a slow, uphill battle marked by moderate success.
Begin here....

Healthy You

NIH News in Health

Check out the September issue of NIH News in Health, the monthly newsletter bringing you practical health news and tips based on the latest NIH research.

New In September
Curb Your Eating
Help Your Brain Fight the Urge to Splurge

Out-of-control eating can look and feel remarkably similar to an addiction to drugs. Scientists are analyzing the brain’s role in binge eating.
Read more about out-of-control eating.

ACP Internist

ACP Internist provides news and information for internists about the practice of medicine and reports on the policies, products and activities of ACP.

Fibromyalgia characterized by controversy

Much research is currently delving into the pain mechanisms of fibromyalgia, a disorder defined by widespread muscle pain that many patients find debilitating and that has such associated symptoms as fatigue, lack of restorative sleep, and memory difficulties. But there remains considerable dissent among the medical community about the condition's cause.

Begin here....

News

FDA Bans 19 Chemicals Used In Antibacterial Soaps
Consumers don't need to use antibacterial soaps, and some of them may even be dangerous, the Food and Drug Administration says.

FDA requires new warnings on danger of combining opioids ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned doctors in the spring against prescribing opioids with benzodiazepines, except for ...

Research

Effects of Dark Chocolate on NOX-2-Generated Oxidative Stress in Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis  

Can chocolate be any more awesome? New research finds that cocoa polyphenols may reduce oxidative stress in NASH.

September 02, 2016

Even Light Drinking Spikes Cancer Risk in Hepatitis C-Related Cirrhosis

Aug 29, 2016 | ARTICLES | Caitlyn Fitzpatrick
It’s no secret that excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous to the liver; that’s exactly why patients with hepatitis C are advised to steer clear of it.

In Case You Missed It

Serious Infections Skyrocket In People Who Inject Illegal Drugs
Bloodstream and heart valve infections are on the rise in people who inject drugs (PWID), more commonly known as IV drug users (IVDU).

Off The Cuff

Hep C On Reddit
A community for those with Hep C, those that want to learn more about Hep C and everyone else.

Stay well, see you soon.

Tina