|
Hepatitis Information Corner |
Who is at risk for hepatitis C?
Patients may be at risk is they have any of the following risk factors:
- Any history of Intravenous Drug use
- Any history of Nasal Cocaine Use
- Received blood transfusion prior to 1991
- Tattoos or Body Piercing
- Organ transplant recipient
- Children of hepatitis C infected mothers
- Any history of sexually transmitted diseases (Gonnorhea, Syphilis, Chlamydia)
- Sexual exposure to individual who might have hepatitis C or mutliple sexual partners
What should I do if I am risk for hepatitis C?
Ask your physician to perform an HCV ELISA (EIA) screening test. A positive test should be confirmed with either an HCV RIBA assay or an HCV RNA. All of these tests require a small blood sample, that is sent off to an appropriate laboratory for analysis.
My doctor says that my liver tests are OK. Does this mean I do not need HCV testing?
No. Patients with hepatitis C frequently have normal liver tests (ALT, AST). If you have risk factors for infection, this test is not sufficient to rule it out.
My doctor says I have hepatitis C, but it is not active. What does this mean?
If the hepatitis C tests are positive but liver tests (ALT or AST) are in the normal range, there tends to be less ongoing injury than someone who has increased ALT/AST. However, these tests (called transaminases) tend to fluctuate rapidly in patients with HCV infection. Repeat testing often shows elevated values (injury) within a few weeks. Furthermore, many patients with normal ALT levels have significant injury on their liver biopsy?
Do I need a liver biopsy?
Most hepatologists believe that a liver biopsy is a vital element in the evaluation of a patient with hepatitis C. It helps determine how much injury has occurred, which often cannot be determined by any other laboratory test. The degree of inflammation also provides some prediction about how much injury is likely to occur in the future. This information helps an experienced hepatologist decide on the best course of treatment for you, rather than following a "cookbook" recipe for disease management.
|
|
|
|
