Tangible treatment needed to curb HCV-related liver disease deaths

PETALING JAYA: More people are to die from Hepatitis C virus related liver disease over the next two decades if nothing tangible is being done.
In disclosing this, Malaysian Liver Foundation president Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican (pix) said this was because most patients do not have symptoms except some complaining of being fatigue.
"Some 60- 80% of patients with Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) will progress to chronic liver disease with 20-30% of these patients developing cirrhosis, and up to 5% will end up with liver cancer," he said, adding that many of these patients are unaware of their infection until their doctors inform them that they have liver cirrhosis or advanced stage of liver cancer.
By this time, Dr Ismail said, the treatment options are limited.
Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) is a major public health problem that can lead to cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and liver cancer.
Globally, an estimated 185 million people have been infected with the Hepatitis C virus (HCV), with 350,000 dying each year from complications of the disease. In Malaysia, the incidence rate of CHC is 6.8/100,000 population in 2013.
Dr Ismail said: "The good news is that cure rates for CHC have improved tremendously over the years with the introduction of new oral medicines, Simeprevir and Sofosbuvir, which can now cure more than 90% of persons with HCV infection," he said.
Newer DAAs and host-targeted agents (HTAs) are now in clinical development.
"The ideal drug or combination of drugs must be one that can be given orally once daily, with few side effects, minimal drug interactions and resistance and short treatment duration," said Dr Ismail.
He said the foundation will continue to enhance its efforts to create awareness among health care providers and the population on the CHC.
Dr Ismail hopes the Ministry of Health will join them in this initiative and facilitate access to care by putting in more resources and making treatment more affordable to patients.