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HCV News
Week Ending 11/16/14
Medicaid patients
denied new hepatitis C cures
'Revolutionary new
drugs are curing hepatitis C, halting a disease that can corrode the
liver to the point of cirrhosis, cancer and death. But state
restrictions on who can get the costly drugs are keeping them out of
reach for some of the poorest patients.'
The American Journal of
Medicine Launches Hepatitis C Resource Center
'The American Journal
of Medicine (AJM) announces the availability of an original,
comprehensive, online Hepatitis C Resource Center dedicated to
providing primary care providers and specialists with the latest
information on the screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of
Hepatitis C (HCV). Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific,
technical and medical information products and services, publishes AJM.'
New Agents Show Promise
in Cirrhosis
'Hepatitis C (HCV)
patients with cirrhosis are tough to treat. And those who have
previously failed therapy are especially difficult. But 24 weeks of
treatment with a newly approved drug combination, sofosbuvir and
ledipasvir (Harvoni), cured 97% of patients in a double-blinded,
controlled trial, according to Marc Bourliere, MD, of the Saint Joseph
Hospital in Marseilles, France.'
American Academy of HIV
Medicine Launches Institute for Hepatitis C
'The American Academy
of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) announces the creation of the new AAHIVM
Institute for Hepatitis C. The AAHIVM board of directors recently voted
unanimously to create the Institute to spearhead current and future
AAHIVM programs and activities focused on HCV. The Institute's goal is
to advance hepatitis C (HCV) care through education, professional
development and advocacy. Vice chair of the AAHIVM board of directors,
Dr. Margaret Hoffman-Terry, will serve as the director of the
institute.'
Life expectancy among
patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis
'Patients with chronic
hepatitis C virus infection and advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis who
attained sustained virological response (SVR) had survival comparable
with that of the general population, whereas patients who did not
attain SVR had reduced survival, according to a study in the November
12 issue of JAMA.'
No Association Between
Hepatitis C And Diabetes
'A new study has found
no association between hepatitis C and diabetes in the United States,
despite previous research that suggested a clear link. Maryland-based
researchers looked at 15,128 participants in the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.'
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