What to Do With a Positive Hepatitis C Test

Predictors of treatment response include age (younger individuals have greater likelihood of response), sex (both males and females are at the same rate of treatment response), race (blacks respond less favorably to treatment than whites), and weight (higher BMI, insulin resistance, and fatty liver can hinder the ability to process medications that can help treatment response). Severe depression and anxiety and continued drug and alcohol use will impact the ability of the medications to be effective in cure. HIV-positive individuals who are co-infected with hepatitis C respond less favorably to treatment.

TREATMENT RESPONSE

Treatment response for hepatitis C is measured by viral response. Rapid viral responders have no measurable virus at four weeks. Early viral responders have a >2 log drop at four weeks and no measurable virus at 12 weeks. Slow viral responders are not negative at week 12 but turn negative at week 24. Null responders have <2 log drop in viral load. Sustained viral response is no measurable virus six months after treatment and is considered a cure.

Genotype used to be a factor in treatment response, but with the development of the new PIs, genotype 1 responses are equal to or comparable to genotype 2 and 3. The higher the viral load, the greater the virus to be killed, which can impede response.

Adherence to treatment is favorable when there is a good patient/provider relationship; adequate support systems in place; compliance with follow-up instructions, appointments, and lab draws; belief on the part of the patient that treatment will be beneficial; completion of the treatment; and a thorough explanation of the costs associated with treatment (i.e., insurance co-payments, medications, prior authorization). 


TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

The current treatment recommendations for hepatitis C are based on genotype. Individuals with genotype 2 HCV receive peginterferon and ribavirin. Peginterferon helps fight the virus in two ways: (1) it helps healthy cells defend themselves against the virus; and (2) it strengthens the immune response, which helps the T and B cells fight off the virus. Peginterferon (alfa-2a and alfa-2b) is administered as subcutaneous weekly injections.

Side effects of treatment include flulike symptoms, fatigue, headache, arthralgias and myalgias, fever, and chills. Other potential symptoms include anemia, diarrhea, nausea, worsening depression, mood instability, injection-site reaction, weight change, alopecia, increased susceptibility to infections, and insomnia. 


Ribavirin is an antiviral that interferes with RNA metabolism and slows the growth of the virus when used together with peginterferon. Ribavirin is administered orally b.i.d. Side effects include nausea; hemolytic anemia; MI with anemia; and such pulmonary symptoms as dyspnea, infiltrate, and pneumonitis. Ribavirin is teratogenic and can cause birth defects or death of an unborn child. Female partners and female partners of individuals being treated with ribavirin should not become pregnant during treatment or for six months after treatment has stopped. 


PROTEASE INHIBITORS 

PIs represent the new class of hepatitis C treatment and give new hope for individuals infected with genotype 1 HCV. Eligibility includes those who are treatment-naïve, partial responders, relapsers, and null responders. PIs are given in conjunction with peginterferon and ribavirin. The response rates are quite phenomenal: 80% in treatment-naïve individuals; 75%–85% in relapsers; 50% in partial responders; and even 30% in null responders. There are two PIs available at this time.

Boceprevir. This medication is given orally 800mg (four 200mg tablets) t.i.d., every eight hours with food. Treatment is initiated with a four-week lead-in period of peginterferon and ribavirin alone; the triple therapy with boceprivir begins at week 5.

Duration of boceprevir for treatment-naïve individuals depends on response. If a negative HCV PCR RNA is achieved at week 8 and week 12, treatments can cease at 28 weeks. Response-guided treatment (RGT) continues depending on whether the patient is below 100 IUs of viral load measurement at specific intervals. A treatment-naïve patient detected at eight weeks and negative at 12 and 24 weeks will complete boceprivir at week 36 but continue the peginterferon and ribavirin for a total of 48 weeks.

This article originally appeared on Clinical Advisor