title: Does the "C" in hepatitis C stand for complex?
abstract: Hepatitis C is a disease usually found in asymptomatic adults. After diagnosis, these patients are instructed to start a therapy that encompasses oral medications and injections three times a week, involving a significant financial cost. Patients undergoing this therapy frequently experience unpleasant side effects. Unfortunately there is no assurance the virus will respond to therapy. The sustained response rate is about 50% for this combination therapy. Why would a person who has no outward sign of illness want to go through this treatment? This article provides an overview of what is currently known about hepatitis C, treatment, and the frequent side effects associated with therapy.
authors.affiliation: huber29@attglobal.net
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin