Curing Hepatitis C: Not Just a Dream Anymore

Photo By Jason Bortz | Lt. Cmdr. Brett Lacey, gastroenterologist, Naval Hospital Pensacola, holds a flyer that is given to patients to explain Hepatitis C. An estimated 3 to 4 million people in the United States are chronically infected with Hepatitis C.  

PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES

02.05.2016

Courtesy Story

NMRTC Pensacola

By Lt. Cmdr. Brent Lacey, gastroenterologist
Naval Hospital Pensacola

PENSACOLA, Fla. - Are you between 50 and 70 years old? If so, you need to get screened for Hepatitis C.

An estimated three to four million people in the United States are chronically infected with Hepatitis C and 80 to 90 percent of people have no symptoms and therefore have no idea that they have the infection (www.ncbi.nilm.nih.gov).

The highest risk population in the U.S. includes people born between 1945 and 1965. People born between those years grew up during a time when we didn’t know about Hepatitis C and had no way to screen for it.

Hepatitis C is a virus that causes chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is spread primarily through the bloodstream but can also be spread through sexual contact, though it is not spread through other forms of physical touch. Common methods of transmission include blood transfusions, tattoos, needle sticks (esp. healthcare workers), intravenous drug use (even once in your life) and sharing a toothbrush or razorblade with an infected person.

For a couple of decades, the diagnosis of chronic Hepatitis C was devastating, carrying a high likelihood of progression to cirrhosis (advanced liver disease), liver cancer and possibly liver transplant. The treatments we had for many years had a low rate of curing the infection and were incredibly difficult to tolerate. Treatment often made people feel like they had the flu every day for most of a year. Since the fall of 2014, a handful of outstanding medications have been developed that are well tolerated and highly effective.

The treatments can be as short as eight weeks for some patients, but others may require longer treatment courses of 12 to 24 weeks. The medications that we have available for genotype 1, the most common strain of the virus, achieves a cure rate greater than 95 percent. It is even successful with people who have previously failed treatment, and there are almost no significant side effects from the medications.

The only way to know if you have Hepatitis C is with a laboratory screening. Remember, most people have no symptoms to tell them that something might be wrong. At Naval Hospital Pensacola, we are leading the way for the Navy in terms of screening at-risk patients and getting them treatment if they turn out to be infected. We have developed the first hospital-wide comprehensive screening program for Hepatitis C in the Navy. The program has been incredibly successful so far, and we’ve already had over 1,100 people get screened in just the first two months of the program.

Patients enrolled at NHP can visit the NHP Lab without an appointment to have the Hepatitis C screening done. You do not have to fast for this test, and you will be contacted with the results of your test within a couple of weeks. TRICARE beneficiaries not enrolled at NHP should contact their primary care manager to inquire about getting a screening.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about the program:

I’ve already had the hepatitis vaccines. Do I still need screening for Hepatitis C?

Yes, you do. There are a two shot series for Hepatitis A and a three shot series for Hepatitis B, but there is not yet a vaccine for Hepatitis C. Any hepatitis vaccines you received were probably Hepatitis A or B (or both).

I’m 100 percent sure that I’ve had the screening test for Hepatitis C at another facility. Do I still need to be screened?

No, you only need to be screened once in your life as long as you are not at high risk for contracting Hepatitis C. High risk behaviors warranting annual screening include intravenous/intranasal drug use, sharing infected needles and getting tattoos with unsterile tools. If you are enrolled to NHP and are sure you have had the blood test to check for Hepatitis C, please call the NHP Gastroenterology Clinic at 850-505-6649 to let us know so that we can remove you from the list of patients who need screening.

What if I choose not to get screened?

You are within your rights to decline this screening test. The chance of having Hepatitis C is about 1 to 1.5 percent based on your age. However, if you have Hepatitis C and do not get treated, you have a high risk of progressing to severe liver disease (cirrhosis) during your lifetime.

What if I have more questions?

Your primary care manager is the best initial resource for determining whether you need to get screened. If you have additional questions or concerns, the Gastroenterology Clinic staff is available to answer your questions at 850-505-6649.

At NHP, we are excited about the opportunity to participate in this program, which has already led to the successful treatment of people who were unaware they had the infection. Help us make Hepatitis C a thing of the past by getting screened. The cure is here!

• Date Taken: 02.05.2016
• Date Posted: 02.05.2016 14:33
• Story ID: 188037
• Location: PENSACOLA, FL, US