HCV treatment update

[bliese]

Hello to everyone out there,

This is my very first post ever. So, please forgive me if I were to break some etiquette/rules. The reason for getting in touch is that our GP's are not necessarily geared up/informed with regards to HCV treatment, or unwilling to investigate and work with their patient in a pro-active manner due to time constraints and budget restraints.

My husband was diagnosed with HCV in 1992. Back then the common treatment consisted of interferon. Depression caused by going 'cold turkey' (alcohol), or raising its ugly head after having been masked for years by drink - nobody knows. However, his mental health wasn't stable enough to undergo the treatment. He never took any medication apart from sillybum marianum (milk thistle extract) .

He was prescribed in 2000 Di-hydrocodein for a prolapsed disc and has become addicted to them since. His prescription allows him to take 9 tablets per day.

Recently I have noticed some yellowing of the eyes as well as tiredness and loss of appetite. I am aware that the latter two could be caused by the medication.

He has not had any blood tests for years as he always has been very healthy, works often outdoors and there was no real cause for tests.

Now, to my questions. What blood tests are required to determine whether he has 'beaten' the condition, and/or to see what damage the HCV has caused to the liver? (Is a biopsy still needed?). Are these blood tests done by the GP? What treatment options are there in the UK? How effective are they?

I would be grateful for any comments, x Bliese

[Ana1806]

Hi Bliese, blood test which are requierd to determine the liver inflammation and function are liver enzymes test (AST,ALT,GGT,ALP) and billirubin (if you say that his eyes are yellow, maybe it is because od high billirubin). But if you say he is tired and has a loss of appetite, full blood test would not be a bad idea. This can be done by GP, but if you want to see if HCV is still active there is a special blood test, and GP in my country doesn't do that test, and have to go to clinic hospital centar to do it. To see the demage to the liver, liver biopsy is still the golden standard, but now there is one new, noninvasive test, looks something like ultrasound, called Fibroscan, which measures stiffness of the liver and can tell you how bad liver is demaged. I don't know much about the treatment so I hope someone will write you about it.

I am not a doctor and I told you this from my experience.

Maybe you should try and ask your GP about this tests, but you can always go to private lab and do this liver function tests and billirubin, they are not very expencive, and then you go from there.

Wish you and your husband all the best,

Ana

[bliese]

Thank you so much for your quick reply Ana,

I feel much better equipped with this info when seeing the GP for the next appointment.

x Bliese

[Hidden]

Hi Bilese,

Welcome to the forum.

Has your husband's liver been monitored regularly since 1992?

It would be advisable for him to see his GP and request bloods to test his liver function and Hep C status as soon as possible.

If he is not under the care of a liver specialist then he should be referred to one.

You may find The British liver Trust publication on Hepatitis C useful for both you and your husband to read, here is the link;

britishlivertrust.org.uk/wp...

We hope you find that helpful and that you also find the forum a supportive place to visit,

Best wishes,

Rebecca