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Hope on the

Horizon for

Hepatitis C

Sufferers

BY RON CICHOWICZ

ew words send as much fear and
panic into a patient than a hepati-
Ftis C, or HCV, diagnosis. For those
needing treatment, the cure can seem Dr. Eugene Schiff
worse than the disease.
“Current hepatitis C treatment often percent.”
Barry Sobczak, Deacon of Property at Plantation Community Church
causes significant side effects,” said “Once diagnosed, the issue becomes,
Eugene Schiff, M.D., chief of the one, does the patient have significant
Division of Hepatology at the University underlying scarring of the liver or, two, if
of Miami School of Medicine and direc- his case is mild, does the side effect pro-
Medical Equipment tor of the Center for Liver Disease. “So file outweigh treatment?” Dr. Schiff said.
“In Genotype 1, if those beginning with
many individuals avoid being treated.
That’s unfortunate, because we can cure a low viral level are put on pegylated
Donated to Hospital this infection in many people.” interferon plus ribavirin. Many will
achieve a cure after 24 weeks, although
With hepatitis, viruses and other fac-
tors inflame and damage the liver, which we don’t recommend stopping at that
in Honduras can lead to hospitalization and even point.”
As for the side effects, Dr. Schiff said,
death. At least six different strains of the
hepatitis virus have been identified, with “You can feel pretty lousy. Anxiety and
hepatitis B and C considered the most depression can evolve. We use antide-
oncerned individuals and organizations across South Florida have stepped
forward to donate needed medical equipment which will be used to equip serious strains and affecting the most pressants to allow these people to stay on
Ca new 55 bed hospital in the area of Riviera Hernandez located outside of individuals. In America, about 70 per- the medication. Some data suggests that
San Pedro Sula, Honduras. This hospital will operate under the leadership of Dr. cent of HCV patients have genotype 1, the virus works on the neurologic sys-
Josue Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez is excited about the prospect of being able to considered the hardest to treat. tem.”
offer quality medical care through the hospital in the area where over 100,000 Hepatitis C is the most common Additional side effects include lowered
people presently live without adequate medical care. The hospital will provide blood-borne infection in the U.S., infect- white blood cell production and anemia;
operating rooms, isolation areas, respiratory and physical therapy, a birthing cen- ing about 4 million individuals. medication can be given for these.
ter, a dental clinic, examination rooms, doctors’ offices, a pediatric ward and Intravenous drug use is the most com- “A cure can come at a cost in many
wards for male and female patients in addition to a pharmacy. The hospital which mon risk factor for hepatitis C. Others people who may suffer significant side
is being built on the grounds of the Honduras Congregational Christian Mission include pre-1992 blood transfusions, effects,” Dr. Schiff said. “They need a lot
by benefactors will be named The Majken Broby Memorial Hospital in memory before blood screening for the virus of support.”
of the mission’s founder who was a Swedish nurse. began; tattooing; body piercing, and sex- One example of support available is
Donations of used, but serviceable, medical equipment have been generously ual intercourse, especially among those the free Be In Charge® program devel-
provided for this project by David and Jan Stoutamire of Advanced Filing Systems who participate in high-risk behavior. oped by Schering-Plough to provide
of Ft. Lauderdale, Al Jasaitis of Diagnostics Source Group, Rob Raymond of “Testing is recommended for anybody information and help patients with
Doctor’s Toy Store, Herb Cadore of HBST Enterprises, and Rick Haynes of Ideal who injected themselves with recreation- chronic hepatitis C who are considering
Medical. Shipping for the equipment has been staged and coordinated by Luis al drugs or had a transfusion before therapy or who are already taking
Rangel of Trans-Aero-Mar in Miami. The entire project has been coordinated by 1992,” said Dr. Schiff. “Teenagers during PegIntron™ (peginterferon alfa-2b)
Dr. F.B. Plank of Plantation Community Church acting on behalf of the Honduras the Vietnam War era who shared drug Powder for injection combination thera-
Congregational Christian Mission. Donations of serviceable medical equipment needles had no idea they might have py. Be In Charge® supplements the sup-
for the hospital are still being solicited by the church. picked up hepatitis C. port and information a patient gets from
“Thirty-five years later, they give his healthcare provider, offering 24-hour
blood, or have a routine exam, and learn nurse phone support, plus in-depth,
they have symptoms of HCV and are easy-to-understand information about
shocked this has been going on inside HCV symptoms, treatment, side effect
them insidiously for so long.” management, and a Be In Charge® Web
Hepatitis C is often called the “silent site (www.BeInCharge.com.)
epidemic” because symptoms develop in “Treatment can be difficult for some-
less than half of those infected; fewer one working full time,” said Dr. Schiff.
than 30 percent of HCV-infected patients “But if they have significant scarring of
even know they have it. Concern usually the liver, it will progress to cirrhosis if
rises when symptoms appear. These can untreated.”
be vague and include appetite loss, Dr. Schiff said the future of HCV treat-
fatigue, stomach pain, dark urine, and, in ment appears bright.
rare cases, “jaundice” (yellowed skin or “We anticipate in the next eight years
eyes.) combinations of drugs targeting the virus
While no vaccine currently exists, and these protease and polymerase
HCV can be treated. Highest response inhibitors will be administered orally. I
rates have come through the combina- doubt you’ll need interferon then. With
tion therapy of pegylated interferon and fewer side effects, we’ll see an influx of
ribavirin. In clinical trials, 50 to 60 per- patients now hiding to avoid those side
cent of individuals treated in this way effects.”
cleared the hepatitis C from their bodies. But, Dr. Schiff warned, caution needs
Treatment can run for up to 72 weeks. to be exercised. “In the interim, patients
“We can’t cure this infection in every- with mild forms of the disease can wait.
one,” Dr. Schiff said. “For those with But others cannot.”
Genotype 1, the most common, we can
cure about 40 percent. Those with Dr. Schiff can be reached at
Genotype 2 have a success rate up to 90 (305) 243-2325.

8 December 2007 hospitalnews.org South Florida Hospital News