Original Article

Open Access: Using Community Paramedicine to Treat Hepatitis C Virus in Upstate South Carolina

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an infection of the liver that can lead to significant liver damage and hepatocellular carcinoma. Individuals born between 1945 and 1965 and individuals with intravenous drug use represent the largest HCV demographics and often experience barriers to treatment. In this case series, we discuss…

Posted in: hepatitis C 15 Infectious Disease 6 telehealth 6

Original Article

Pretreatment Assessment of Psychosocial Readiness Is Not Associated with Improved Treatment Outcomes in a Safety-Net HCV Treatment Clinic

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is highly curable with antiviral therapy, and traditionally, treatment adherence has been critical for treatment success. We sought to determine whether assessing HCV treatment readiness with a structured treatment readiness tool was associated with increased rates of adherence and cure among patients at a safety-net…

Posted in: adherence 10 hepatitis C 15 psychosocial 2

Original Article

Awareness of Birth Cohort Hepatitis C Testing Recommendation Among Baby Boomers: An Exploratory Survey Study

Objectives: To examine population awareness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing recommendation for the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort and explore the factors associated with awareness of the testing recommendation, its association with HCV testing, and respondents’ data sources about the recommendation….

Posted in: awareness 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2 hepatitis C 15 survey 8

Original Article

Prevalence of HCV Infection in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and Treatment with Direct Antiviral Agents

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects >3% of the US population, which over time can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The lack of a reliable screening method for HCV before 1992 resulted in a higher prevalence of the virus in adults with congenital heart disease who underwent corrective…

Posted in: congenital heart disease 2 hepatitis C 15

Review

Telaprevir and Boceprevir in African Americans with Genotype 1 Chronic Hepatitis C: Implications for Patients and Providers

Telaprevir and boceprevir have received US Food and Drug Administration approval for use as triple therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Clinical trials of these agents included few African Americans, despite the overwhelming need for improved therapies in this racial group….

Posted in: drug resistance 2 hepatitis C 15 viral 3

Review

A Paradigm Shift in the Outpatient Approach to Liver Function Tests

The American Gastroenterological Association (2002), Canadian Medical Association (2005), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006) released guidelines to screen patients with mild elevations of liver enzymes for hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Mildly elevated liver enzymes were defined as less than five times the upper limit of…

Posted in: cost effectiveness 3 hepatitis B 6 hepatitis C 15 screening 34

Original Article

Comparing the Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) Between African American and White Veterans with Chronic Hepatitis C

Objectives: The study of noninvasive markers of fibrosis, such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI), have been limited in African American populations. Given the disparate outcomes of chronic hepatitis C in African American populations, comparative analyses of the APRI score should be undertaken. Compare the diagnostic accuracy…

Posted in: African Americans 8 healthcare disparities 4 hepatitis C 15 liver disease 4

Expired CME Article

Use of Statins in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a leading cause of liver failure and transplantation in the United States and a major public health issue. Studies have shown that patients with hepatitis C are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which make statins of particular benefit in this patient population. However, the National…

Posted in: hepatitis C 15 statin therapy 2

Original Article

Hepatitis C Transmission, Prevention, and Treatment Knowledge Among Patients with HIV

Objective: Liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious cause of mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) (PLWHA). Little is known about the HCV knowledge of PLWHA. Methods: One hundred seventy-nine patients at an infectious disease clinic were interviewed on HCV knowledge…

Posted in: AIDS 7 alcohol 5 hepatitis C 15 HIV 30 Prevention 18

Original Article

Religious Involvement and Seroprevalence of Six Infectious Diseases in US Adults

Objective: In the United States, religious practice is inversely associated with several chronic conditions, but no reports show whether it is inversely associated with prevalence of positive serology for infections. Methods: Data on a multiethnic, national sample included 11,507 persons aged 17 years and over with complete data on frequency…

Posted in: hepatitis B 6 hepatitis C 15 infectious diseases 2 religion 17

Original Article

Hepatitis C Infection and the Risk of Bacteremia in Hemodialysis Patients with Tunneled Vascular Access Catheters

Background:The major complication of tunneled vascular catheters in dialysis patients is infection. In preliminary work, an association was noted between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and bacteremia in these patients. On this basis, we theorized that HCV infection may be associated with bacteremia in dialysis patients with tunneled catheters.Methods:We conducted…

Posted in: bacteremia 10 hemodialysis 9 hepatitis C 15

Original Article

Descriptive Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus Among Male Heroin Abusers in Taiwan

Background:The purpose of this study was to explore the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and to determine the risk factors for HCV infection among heroin abusers in Taiwan. Methods:This was a cross-sectional study. From November 2004 to February 2005, 577 subjects, including 423 subjects (73.3%) using injectable heroin…

Posted in: epidemiology 36 hepatitis C 15 prevalence 15

Review Article

Extrahepatic Manifestations of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C affects approximately 170 million people worldwide. Extrahepatic manifestations of chronic hepatitis C infection are clinically evident in nearly 40% of patients. Much research has been done over the last decade to better understand their incidence, clinical presentation, mechanism of disease, and the role of antiviral therapy in their…

Posted in: hepatitis C 15 membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis 2

Original Article

Daily Interferon Monotherapy for Chronic Hepatitis C in Patients with Normal or Near-normal Serum Alanine Transaminase Levels: A Comparison of Two Protocols

Objectives: Up to 30% of the 5 million patients with chronic hepatitis C in the United States have normal serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. These individuals have not been treated aggressively, and reported response rates have been low. No study has targeted patients treated in a community practice setting. Methods:…

Posted in: hepatitis C 15 interferon 3

Review Article

Hepatitis C Infection: A Clinical Review

Nearly three million persons in the United States are viremic with hepatitis C (HCV). Despite a decreasing incidence of HCV in this country, the prevalence of HCV-related chronic liver disease is increasing. Most infections in the United States are acquired by intravenous drug use. The chronicity rate of HCV is…

Posted in: hepatitis C 15 liver disease 4 pegylated interferon 2
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