Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Did you know that you can have more than one genotype, yes it is possible.
Here some info on genotypes and why we need to know the type a person has;
What does the term genotype mean?
Genotype refers to the genetic make-up of an organism or a virus.
There are at least 6 distinct HCV genotypes identified. Genotype 1 is the most common genotype seen in the United States.
Is it necessary to do genotyping when managing a person with chronic hepatitis C?
Yes, as there are 6 known genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV, and genotype information is helpful in defining the epidemiology of hepatitis C.
Knowing the genotype or serotype (genotype-specific antibodies) of HCV is helpful in making recommendations and counseling regarding therapy.
Patients with genotypes 2 and 3 are almost three times more likely than patients with genotype 1 to respond to therapy with alpha interferon or the combination of alpha interferon and ribavirin.
Furthermore, when using combination therapy, the recommended duration of treatment depends on the genotype.
For patients with genotypes 2 and 3, a 24-week course of combination treatment is adequate, whereas for patients with genotype 1, a 48-week course is recommended.
For these reasons, testing for HCV genotype is often clinically helpful.
Once the genotype is identified, it need not be tested again; genotypes do not change during the course of infection.
Why do most persons remain infected?
Persons infected with HCV mount an antibody response to parts of the virus, but changes in the virus during infection result in changes that are not recognized by preexisting antibodies.
This appears to be how the virus establishes and maintains long-lasting infection.
Can persons become infected with different genotypes?
Yes. Because of the ineffective immune response described above, prior infection does not protect against reinfection with the same or different genotypes of the virus.
For the same reason, there is no effective pre-or postexposure prophylaxis (i.e, immune globulin) available.
Here some info on genotypes and why we need to know the type a person has;
What does the term genotype mean?
Genotype refers to the genetic make-up of an organism or a virus.
There are at least 6 distinct HCV genotypes identified. Genotype 1 is the most common genotype seen in the United States.
Is it necessary to do genotyping when managing a person with chronic hepatitis C?
Yes, as there are 6 known genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV, and genotype information is helpful in defining the epidemiology of hepatitis C.
Knowing the genotype or serotype (genotype-specific antibodies) of HCV is helpful in making recommendations and counseling regarding therapy.
Patients with genotypes 2 and 3 are almost three times more likely than patients with genotype 1 to respond to therapy with alpha interferon or the combination of alpha interferon and ribavirin.
Furthermore, when using combination therapy, the recommended duration of treatment depends on the genotype.
For patients with genotypes 2 and 3, a 24-week course of combination treatment is adequate, whereas for patients with genotype 1, a 48-week course is recommended.
For these reasons, testing for HCV genotype is often clinically helpful.
Once the genotype is identified, it need not be tested again; genotypes do not change during the course of infection.
Why do most persons remain infected?
Persons infected with HCV mount an antibody response to parts of the virus, but changes in the virus during infection result in changes that are not recognized by preexisting antibodies.
This appears to be how the virus establishes and maintains long-lasting infection.
Can persons become infected with different genotypes?
Yes. Because of the ineffective immune response described above, prior infection does not protect against reinfection with the same or different genotypes of the virus.
For the same reason, there is no effective pre-or postexposure prophylaxis (i.e, immune globulin) available.
deleted_user
Great info Mckenzie. Worth coping and saving for refernece. Thanks.
deleted_user
very interesting
Join the Conversation
-
My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...