Welcome to Fern's Homestead

and My Hepatitis C Page

What is Hepatitis C?

There are at least 6 major genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV. The different genotypes have different geographic distributions. Genotypes 1a and 1b are the most common in the United States. Genotypes 2 and 3 are present in only 10 to 20 percent of patients. There is little difference in the severity of disease or outcome of patients infected with different genotypes. However, patients with genotypes 2 and 3 are more likely to respond to alpha interferon treatment.

Symptoms

As you can see there are several symptoms and many of them could be a sign of something totally different from Hepatitis C. Be sure to ask your Dr about any symptoms you feel you have.

SOURCE: Sapient Health Network

Many people with chronic hepatitis C have no symptoms of liver disease. If symptoms are present, they are usually mild, nonspecific, and intermittent. Similarly, the physical exam is likely to be normal or show only mild inflamation or tenderness.
[Return to Top]

Diagnosis and Testing

ALT (SGPT):

These drugs may possibly increase ALT measurements: acetaminophen - oral, ampicillin, codeine, oral contraceptives, and tetracycline. This test is used to determine if a patient has liver damage. ALT is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of the amino acid alanine. ALT is in a number of tissues but is in highest concentrations in the liver. Increased levels of this enzyme in the blood means serious damage to the cells in the liver, heart and muscles.

AST (SGOT):

AST is in high concentration in heart muscle, liver cells, skeletal muscle cells, and to a lesser degree, in other tissues. An enzyme that increases in the blood when there is stress and/or damage to liver cells. This test is used primarily to diagnose and monitor the course of liver disease (in combination with other enzymes such as ALT)

These HERBS may possibly alter SGOT and SGPT Readings:

ANAGALLIS (Scarlet Pimpernel)
EUONYMUS (Wahoo, Burning Bush)
LINARIA (Toad Flax. Butter-and-Eggs)
MAHONIA (Oregon Grape, Algerita)
SILYBUM MARIANUM (Milk Thistle)
(Source: Michael Moore)

BILIRUBIN

Drugs that can increase bilirubin measurements include some antibiotics, codeine, diuretics, epinephrine, MAO inhibitors, morphine, nicotinic acid, oral contraceptives, salicylates, steroids and sulfonamides.

Drugs that can decrease bilirubin measurements include barbiturates, caffeine, penicillin, and high-dose salicylates.

This test is performed to help determine if a patient has liver disease or a blocked bile duct.

Anti-HCV (antibody to HCV)
EIA (enzyme immunoassay) This test is usually done first. If positive, it should be confirmed

RIBA (recombinant immunoblot assay) A supplemental test used to confirm a positive EIA test Anti-HCV does not tell whether the infection is new (acute), chronic (long-term) or is no longer present.

Qualitative tests to detect presence or absence of virus (HCV RNA) Generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Amplicor HCV

Quantitative tests to detect amount (titer) of virus (HCV RNA)

PCR and other tests to directly detect virus are not licensed tests and are only available on a research-basis. A single positive PCR test indicates infection with HCV. A single negative test does not prove that a person is not infected. Virus may be present in the blood and just not found by PCR. Also, a person infected in the past who has recovered may have a negative test. When hepatitis C is suspected and PCR is negative, PCR should be repeated.

[Return to Top]

Who should get tested for hepatitis C?

Persons who were treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987 when more advanced methods for manufacturing the products were developed

Persons who were notified that they received blood from a donor who later tested positive for hepatitis

Persons who received a blood transfusion or solid organ transplant before July 1992 when better testing of blood donors became available long-term hemodialysis patients persons who have signs or symptoms of liver disease (e.g., abnormal liver enzyme tests)

Healthcare workers after exposures (e.g., needle sticks or splashes to the eye ) to HCV-positive blood on the job

Children born to HCV-positive women

[Return to Top]

What is the risk that HCV infected women will spread HCV to their newborn infants?

I have had HepC since 1970 and I was not diagnosed until 1998. I gave birth to 2 perfectly healthy sons. I also breast fed both children for over a year each. Both were tested and are negative, however here are the facts:

About 5 out of every 100 infants born to HCV infected women become infected. This occurs at the time of birth, and there is no treatment that can prevent this from happening. Most infants infected with HCV at the time of birth have no symptoms and do well during childhood. More studies are needed to find out if these children will have problems from the infection as they grow older. There are no licensed treatments or guidelines for the treatment of infants or children infected with HCV. Children with elevated ALT (liver enzyme) levels should be referred for evaluation to a specialist familiar with the management of children with HCV-related disease.

Should a woman with hepatitis C be advised against breast-feeding?

[Return to Top]

How can persons infected with HCV prevent spreading HCV to others?

Do not share personal items that might have your blood on them, such as toothbrushes, dental appliances, nail-grooming equipment or razors.

Cover your cuts and skin sores to keep from spreading HCV.

How can a person protect themselves from getting hepatitis C?

Do not share toothbrushes, razors, or other personal care articles. They might have blood on them.

If you are a healthcare worker, always follow routine barrier precautions and safely handle needles and other sharps.

Consider the health risks if you are thinking about getting a tattoo or body piercing: You can get infected if: the tools that are used have someone else's blood on them. the artist or piercer doesn't follow good health practices, such as washing hands and using disposable gloves.

[Return to Top]

Transmission of HepC

Persons should not be excluded from work, school, play, child-care or other settings on the basis of their HCV infection status.

Involvement with a support group may help patients cope with hepatitis C.

Long-term Consequences of HCV Infection

Of every 100 persons infected with HCV about:

85 persons may develop long-term infection,

70 persons may develop chronic liver disease,

15 persons may develop cirrhosis over a period of 20 to 30 years, and

5 persons may die from the consequences of long term infection (liver cancer or cirrhosis).

Source: MMWR Recommendations: Recommendations for Prevention and Control of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and HCV-Related Chronic Disease

[Return to Top]

Complications of HepC

A list of some of the diseases that have been clinically linked to Chronic Hepatitis C

Arthritis
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Cognitive Dysfunction
Depression
Lichen Planus
Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma
Raynauds disease
Thryoid disease - Autoimmune

[Return to Top]

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIET AND HEPATITIS C ?

IRON AND HEPATITIS C

The liver plays an important role in the metabolism of iron since it is the primary organ in the body that stores this metal. The average American diet contains about 10- 20 mg of iron. Only about 10% of this iron is eliminated from the body. Patients with chronichepatitis C sometimes have difficulty excreting iron from the body. This can result in an overload of iron in the liver, blood, and other organs. Excess iron can be very damaging to the liver. Studies suggest that high iron levels reduce the response rate of patients with hepatitis C to interferon. Thus, patients with chronic hepatitis C whose serum iron level is elevated, or who have cirrhosis, should avoid taking iron supplementation. In addition, one should restrict the amounts of iron rich foods in their diet, such as red meats, liver, and cereals fortified with iron, and should avoid cooking with iron coated utensils.

[Return to Top]

I have been blessed with

Powered by Bravenet