Mondav. June 4. 2001 - The Michigan Dailv - 9
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atients at risk for hepatitis C not adequately screened
Shabina Khatrl with identifying risk factors may be the "We've noticed that the frequency in liver transplants" he said. intake, Shehab said.
aly Staff Reporter stigma attached to them, the number of shared needles is directly Shehab said he agrees. "We believe The study also found only 57 percent
" -
A recent study by the University's
ealth System found people who are at
sk for the hepatitis C virus are not get-
ag tested early or often enough.
"The evolution of treatment for hepati-
s C is a very recent one, resulting in a
ege in management. [Management]
rs not been as aggressive because doc-
rs don't realize medications are suc-
essful," said Hernan Drobny, a UHS
hysician.
80 percent of people infected with hep-
itis C, a blood disease which damages
e liver, exhibit no physical signs or
ymptoms. The findings suggest dis-
tssing and identifying factors that could
>tentially place a patient at risk, as well
effective testing for the disease, are
al. The findings cite a lack of aware-
about the risk factors of the poten-
ally fatal disease on the part of both
hysicians and patients, suggesting more
nowledge among both parties would
ad to a higher level of communication.
Researchers said part of the problem
"There are some uncomfortable
issues, like experimenting with drugs or
having many sexual partners, that many
patients may be reluctant to volunteer,"
said Medical School student Thomas
Shehab.
But these are not the only factors
patients and doctors must be aware of
Occupational exposures of health care
workers and having received a blood
transfusion or organ transplant before
1982 must also be researched.
related to the number of people infected
with hepatitis C," said Drobny, who
added intravenous drugs are the number
one risk factor for getting the disease.
Although there is no vaccine against
the virus and advanced treatment has
only successfully cured 35 to 40 percent
of people with hepatitis C, Drobny
emphasizes the importance of timeliness
in beating the odds. "[Early treatment]
lowers the probability of the progression
of hepatitis C, thus lowering the need for
you get a better benefit if a patient
'receives treatment earlier because those
in the advanced stages of the disease
suffer from cirrhosis of the liver, which
is very difficult to treat,' he said.
In addition to benefiting from treat-
ment early on, a patient who is aware
they have the disease can alter their
behavior so as not to spread the virus. A
person with hepatitis C can also take
steps to improve their chances of surviv-
ing the disease by reducing their alcohol
of hepatitis C-infected patients were
referred to specialists. Factors that are
thought to affect treatment may include
race, gender, medical and insurance con-
siderations.
"My hypothesis is that primary care
physicians may not believe that therapy
is beneficial. In addition, they may not
consider hepatitis C to be a progressive
disease in most people and therefore
may feel there is no need to subject their
patient to treatment,' Shehab said.
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