Hepatitis C can almost always be cured

„Therapy Revolution“: Healing chances of hepatitis C at almost 90 percent

07/23/2014

In Germany, up to one million people are infected with hepatitis viruses. However, very few of them know about it and often notice the infection late. And although hepatitis C can be treated well with the help of medication. Thanks to new drugs, the infectious disease can be cured in almost 90 percent of cases. An expert speaks of one „Therapy Revolution“.

Many do not know about their infection
One can already speak of a silent epidemic: Up to one million people are infected in Germany with hepatitis viruses. However, very few of them know about it. Only one-third of sufferers develop typical jaundice, and one-third of those infected only notice flu symptoms such as fever, body aches, nausea, loss of appetite, headache or fatigue, and another third notice nothing. Chronic viral hepatitis, however, can lead to long-term consequences such as cirrhosis and liver cancer and thus end in death. The World Health Organization (WHO) therefore launched World Hepatitis Day on July 28, three years ago, to raise awareness of the threat.

Elevated liver values ​​must be taken seriously
The liver specialist Michael Manns of the Hannover Medical School (MHH) appeals to risk groups to be tested. These include drug addicts, migrants from certain countries and medical staff. Also, people who received blood transfusions before 1991 or had frequent surgery should undergo a test. Manns estimates that currently only ten to 20 percent of hepatitis B and C are diagnosed. According to the dpa news agency, the gastroenterologist said: „Increased liver values ​​are often considered a trivial offense, they must be clarified.“ The German Liver Assistance had criticized last year that although sometimes elevated liver values ​​were found in routine examinations, „which is often ignored“.

Two new active ingredients on the market since the beginning of the year
Similar to those infected with HIV, patients with chronic hepatitis B need to take life-long medicines, but full cure is possible with chronic hepatitis C. Two new drugs have been on the market since the beginning of the year, which help a larger group of patients and have far fewer side effects than the previous standard therapy. The MHH doctors were involved in registration studies for the new funds. Manns sees it as „incredible, rare success story of medicine“ that the infectious disease can now be cured to nearly 90 percent. In future, this will make around a quarter of all liver transplants preventable.

„Therapy Revolution“ with high costs
Since the beginning of the year, many patients with hepatitis C who hope for the new funds reported to Deutsche Leberhilfe. „It is a therapy revolution“, said the spokesman for the self-help organization, Ingo van Thiel. „However, drug costs are still a major obstacle.“ There are currently costs of around 120,000 euros for a 24-week therapy. The highest decision-making body of the German health service, the Federal Joint Committee, recently voted by a narrow majority to certify the new active ingredient Sofosbuvir slightly more added value compared to the older funds than the hesitant health insurance initially wanted. Elderly therapies are often associated with severe side effects, particularly severe psychiatric problems such as depression. The Cologne Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) had previously complained that the added benefit of the new hepatitis C agent was not quantifiable, „since it is unclear how often the occurrence of liver cancer can actually be avoided“. But the Joint Federal Committee did not follow the concerns of the IQWiG.

Need to catch up with the care of patients
According to studies, Germany is a leader in hepatitis research, but there is a need to catch up with patients. One year ago, an alliance of physicians and concerned associations of the Federal Government submitted a national action plan. Van Thiel criticized: „Neither the systematic examination of risk groups nor the control of liver values ​​in preventive examinations are standard in this country.“ A national action plan could also have the side effect of reducing prejudice. „Liver diseases in general have a grubby image and are associated with „alcoholics“ equated. This is one of the major obstacles to why these diseases are not detected and treated more often“, said Manns, who co-founded the German Liver Foundation. The organization is still looking for a well-known representative. As the liver expert said, there are - unlike breast cancer - in Germany so far no celebrities with hepatitis C, which outed. (Ad)