EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LIVER -- 11 April 2018, Paris, France: Two independent studies have today reported that alcoholic liver disease has now replaced hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as the leading cause of liver transplantation in the USA in patients without HCC. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is also on the increase, now ranking second as a cause of liver transplantation due to chronic liver disease.
Chronic HCV infection
Advancing Liver Disease
It’s far better for the public health to test broadly for HCV, and to treat it early. Advanced HCV liver disease is costly, painful, and preventable! Left undiagnosed and/or untreated, hepatitis C advances – often silently – until suddenly it is too late.
Overview of HCV Disease Progression
If acute hepatitis C infection (HCV) becomes a chronic infection it can eventually progress to a more serious disease. Over time it can pro
AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI)
APRI above 1.5 can indicate advanced HCV liver damage.
WARNING: Do NOT use APRI alone as its accuracy rate is not sufficient to do so; experts recommend using a combination of two or all three of the non-invasive liver tests (APRI, FibroSure/FibroTest, or FibroScan).
Using the results of APRI, a non-invasive test, one can very roughly determine whether one has a high risk of having advanced live
Why is your liver important? How does HCV affect the liver? What does liver disease mean?
What the Liver Does
The liver has many functions, including these:
Stores iron reserves, as well as vitamins and minerals
Detoxifies poisonous chemicals, including alcohol and drugs (prescribed and over-the-counter medicines as well as illegal substances). Acts as a filter to convert them to substances that can be used or excreted...
"The most striking results were found in patients with hepatitis C," Hodge said. "Two or more cups of coffee led to an improvement in their liver disease."Good news for coffee lovers! A new research just found that coffee can actually help keep the liver in good health.Findings by a team from the Monash University found that drinking 2 or more cups of coffee a day can help prevent liver diseases and even reduce damage caused by some of these conditions."Ce...
On Monday, September 28, 2015, HepCBC sent a letter (text below) out to all the Provincial Health Ministers except Quebec's, telling them why it is important to patients that they make a decision soon about whether to cover a new hepatic encephalopathy drug, rifaximin. For reference you can read:
HepCBC's Patient Group report to the federal government (CADTH) HERE (includes Jan. 12, 2015 revision added on request of CADTH)
HepCBC's Patient Group re
The Canadian Drug Review (CADTH) has announced two more new drugs for people with hepatitis C. Both need our patient group input BEFORE MIDNIGHT Tuesday AUGUST 26th! Revolade (Promacta in the USA or "eltrombopag olamine") by Glaxo Smith Kline, and Zaxine (Xifaxan in the USA or "rifaximin") by Salix Pharmaceuticals, are not the "cures" we have all been focusing on recently. Instead, Revolade is used in the treatment of people who are experiencing Thrombocyt
Canada's top liver physicians released new figures showing dramatically increased costs due to untreated hepatitis C which would place a great burden on our medical system over the next 20 years. Liver-related deaths due to liver cancer, liver failure and other causes due to untreated hepatitis C are projected to increase 160% over the next 20 years, significantly more than projected currently by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Treatments are availabl
