Treatment of hepatitis C

Treatment of hepatitis C, other tests may be carried out. These include liver function tests, which measure substances in the patient’s blood, showing how effectively the liver is working. A liver biopsy may also be carried out. A fine hollow needle is passed through the skin into the liver and a small sample is taken. The sample is then examined under a microscope to gauge the amount of liver damage. Treatment combines the antiviral drugs interferon and ribavirin. Although treatment has improved in recent years, the success rates vary depending on which genotype the patient has and how long they have had hepatitis C. year of 2011, the FDA approved a new drug called Victrelis When taken alongside existing drugs, Victrelis cured more than 60 percent of patients in clinical trials compared to between 20-40 percent of patients when existing drugs were taken alone. Unlike other drugs for hepatitis C, Victrelis is a protease inhibitor, similar to those used to treat HIV. Adherence to this drug is essential to prevent drug resistance.