About Hepatitis | Your Questions, Our Answers
Oct
23
Posted on 23-10-2009
Filed Under (hepatitis) by admin on 23-10-2009
Nicole Cutler, L.Ac. asked:
Medical professionals realize that developing a customized treatment plan for each patient is the key in defeating any condition or disease. This is especially important when dealing with the Hepatitis C virus because there are so many strains of the virus, and a number of different genotypes. A treatment plan that works for one patient may not be effective for another, even though both patients are infected with the same disease. How the different Hepatitis C genotypes affect the body differs with each person, therefore treatment plans must be custom-made for each individual patient.
Consider the following situation: two people of the same age are diagnosed with Hepatitis C. They both start and finish the standard course of interferon treatment at the same time, however patient A has responded more positively to treatment than patient B. How can this be possible if they were both on the same treatment? The answer lies in their differing genotypes.
Testing for specific genotypes should be done immediately following the HCV diagnosis, so that an appropriate treatment plan can be developed. The earlier this crucial information is determined, the better chance the treatment will have a beneficial effect on the virus. Interferon therapy alone may be beneficial for a certain genotype, however other genotypes may require combination therapy. For example, genotypes 2 and 3 respond more favorably to standard interferon therapy than other genotypes. Also, once a treatment plan has been developed, depending on the given genotype, the length of treatment may vary between patients.
Unfortunately, many patients find that their initial course of therapy has had little effect on the virus, and they must be re-treated. Developing a more customized treatment plan based on specific genotype may reduce this need for re-treatment altogether. If you are infected with HCV but don’t know your genotype, speak directly with your physician immediately.
To learn more about the many different Hepatitis C genotypes and how they can be responsible for a successful course of treatment, visit: hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/01/06-week/index.html.
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Medical professionals realize that developing a customized treatment plan for each patient is the key in defeating any condition or disease. This is especially important when dealing with the Hepatitis C virus because there are so many strains of the virus, and a number of different genotypes. A treatment plan that works for one patient may not be effective for another, even though both patients are infected with the same disease. How the different Hepatitis C genotypes affect the body differs with each person, therefore treatment plans must be custom-made for each individual patient.
Consider the following situation: two people of the same age are diagnosed with Hepatitis C. They both start and finish the standard course of interferon treatment at the same time, however patient A has responded more positively to treatment than patient B. How can this be possible if they were both on the same treatment? The answer lies in their differing genotypes.
Testing for specific genotypes should be done immediately following the HCV diagnosis, so that an appropriate treatment plan can be developed. The earlier this crucial information is determined, the better chance the treatment will have a beneficial effect on the virus. Interferon therapy alone may be beneficial for a certain genotype, however other genotypes may require combination therapy. For example, genotypes 2 and 3 respond more favorably to standard interferon therapy than other genotypes. Also, once a treatment plan has been developed, depending on the given genotype, the length of treatment may vary between patients.
Unfortunately, many patients find that their initial course of therapy has had little effect on the virus, and they must be re-treated. Developing a more customized treatment plan based on specific genotype may reduce this need for re-treatment altogether. If you are infected with HCV but don’t know your genotype, speak directly with your physician immediately.
To learn more about the many different Hepatitis C genotypes and how they can be responsible for a successful course of treatment, visit: hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2008/01/06-week/index.html.
Bamboo Water Fountains
