What Is The Treatment For Early-stage Hepatitis C Virus?

Posted on Sun, 23 Feb 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 24 Feb 2014 Answered on

Tue, 18 Mar 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : hi What is the treatment for hepatitis C virus early-stage cirrhosis? Does it needs to be cured as soon as possible? Can it be completely cured or have no affection to death if it is cured right now? Where can I come for the best treatment for HCV and cirrhosis? How much will be the cost of treatment? If I look for treatment in USA, can it be after one year or it is needed as soon as possible? How long does early stage cirrhosis continues? Can the treatment be effective if I start now? Regards, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (8 hours later)

Brief Answer: Start treatment, available in the USA..$241000 Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this query I am so sorry to hear about this chronic hepatitis C that you have. Treatment would for sure be an important step towards preventing the progression of this infection, cirrhosis and other complications like liver cancer and liver failures. Treatment costs about $241,000 averagely for complete treatment. A combination of sofosbuvir, Ribavirin, or Interferon depending on the genotype of the hepatitis C. Treatment lasts anywhere from 12-24weeks depending on the genotype as well. Treatment would be best if started earlier so as to halt the progression of the disease. The recent developments in the treatment of Hepatitis C has made treatment a lot easier because of lesser side effects, possibility to take by mouth and great cure rates. A hepatologist of gastroenterologist would make the necessary pre treatment evaluation and continue the treatment process. I hope this addresses your query fully. Thank you so much for patronizing our services and please do feel free to ask for follow up clarifications and information if need be. I wish you the best of health. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)

dear dr.Ditah, Thank you for your answer. i have more questions regarding above discussion. Do you mean that if it is early stage diagnosis, can it be completely cured? Can above treatment remove HCV completely or just haulting it temporarily? How much is the complete treatment rate? Can you be more specific by complete treatment? What would be the result after treatment? refards, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Complete cure Detailed Answer: Hi and thanks for following up with me. Hepatitis C virus can be completely treated. It is not being halted but cleared from the system fully. So long as you have it in your system, no matter the number of years, it can always be treated. The complications would not be reversed but progression would be halted. The cost is at least $241000(Two hundred and forty one thousands) and last averagely 12-24weeks depending on the viral genotype. However, cirrhosis cannot be reversed but halted. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (45 minutes later)

dear dr. ditah, Is there any other complete treatment for hepatitis C except from interferon injection? I heard that interferon injection is with many side effects. Can those side effects be fatal or temporarily? And how long does the early stage cirrohis continues until gets through next stage? What are the best diets and other suggestions except interferon? Can We wait for 6 months to start the treatment process or should start it immediatlely? Thanks and regards, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (33 hours later)

Brief Answer: See below Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for following up with me. I am sorry for this tardy response but I will always do my best to get back to you as soon as possible. Interferon has severe side effects. What has made HCV treatment a lot better is the non necessity of this drug. We have new regimen which all are possible to be administered by mouth over a short duration of about 12weeks with great results. There is just no reason to get worried about interferon and its side effects in this era as concerns treatment for hepatitis C. Cirrhosis would continue as long as you are not taking treatment for the primary cause. In this case, it is hepatitis C and treating it would slow down the rate of progression of your cirrhosis. How fast cirrhosis progresses varies from one client to another and depends whether management is effective or not. I will suggest you start treatment right away. Follow up with a hepatologist for this. Tell him you do not want interferon and a regimen without interferon would be offered to you. The drugs are already on the market. As for diet, avoid alcohol, tobacco and eat a lot of fruits, vegetables. Any drug that has liver toxicity like paracetamol should be avoided. I hope this helps. I wish you well. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)

Dear Dr.DItah, Thank you so much for your detailed answers and advice. I have one more query. My family are discussing to go to Thailand where treatment cost is affordable. We live in Mongolia. As i heard from Thai hospital, there is new treatment available to completely cure HCV except for interferon. So we were considering to go to Thai to get the HCV amounts drop down or make them inactive. But you just said that having regimen is easier treatment without any side effects and if we had already tried to treated with interferon, regimen treatment is with less effective. Is it right, what i have understood? If so, where is the regimen treatment available , particularly in which country where cost is affordable? Should we try interferon treatment right now as regimen is not available for now or should wait and try for regimen treatment? Which one would you suggest for effective treatment? Can HCV be completely cured by interferon? I heard it can not be completely treated with interferon from that Thai hospital?My mistake, thai hospital is not available for new treatment which is more effective than interferon. As i assume this will be regimen treatment if it is recent. As Thai hospital is not available, we are considering to go for interferon or we should choose regimen as first option? Please answer for previois e-mail query. Thank you so much, looking forward to your response Regards, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (22 hours later)

Brief Answer: Get the interferon based regimen Detailed Answer: Hi and thank you so much for this follow up. The new drugs that do not necessarily need to be associated with interferon are relatively scarce and very expensive. There is no doubt as to why this may not be present in Thai hospital. In the absent of this, I will recommend the interferon based regimen. They can all treat Hepatitis C but the new regimen has a better outcome and least side effects. But, we cannot stop treating persons because the new one is not yet available. Remember million of persons have been treated by this before the recent developments with success. I am still pretty sure that this regimen would not disappear from use over night. In all, i strongly recommend the interferon based regimen. I wish you well with the entire treatment process. Dr. Ditah, MD.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar