Aa
HCV
My brother-in-law went for kidney transplant in November 2002. Recently he has been diagnosed with HCV Genotype 1. Is there any homopethic medicine for HCV? Also it is also said that Blueberry Leaves stops or lowers HCV virus. How much is this true? If these leaves are beneficial how can we procure the same?
My understanding is that treatment with interferon/ribavirin can be risky in a kidney transplant patient. I found the following excerpts which suggests that is the case. Successful treatment has been done but it requires strict monitoring/supervision. Was he HCV positive when he was transplanted or was he infected post transplant?
The Kidney Transplant Recipient with Hepatitis C Infection: Pre- and Posttransplantation Treatment
Norah A. Terrault*, and Deborah B. Adey{dagger}
"...Treatment of HCV in kidney transplant recipients is not routinely recommended (35,69,70,99–101) because of concerns about IFN precipitating acute rejection. However, there are clinical circumstances in which a risk–benefit assessment may favor treatment, and some data suggest that certain transplant recipients will benefit from treatment with IFN monotherapy or IFN plus ribavirin combination therapy (Table 3) (71,72,102–105). For example, HCV-associated glomerulonephritides can recur after kidney transplantation and cause progressive renal dysfunction, and antiviral therapy may be needed to prevent graft loss (106,107). In addition, patients with advanced fibrosis (bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis) or severe cholestatic hepatitis warrant consideration of treatment to prevent death as a result of liver-related complications. Therefore, the decision to treat a kidney transplant recipient with IFN-based antiviral therapy must be individualized.
Several factors have been proposed to minimize the risk for acute rejection during antiviral therapy. Treatment in the first year after transplantation may increase the risk for acute rejection, which is already highest during this time (71). Antiviral therapy may be safer if given years after transplantation and in patients with stable graft function and no history of rejection (104,112). In addition, patients should be on a stable immunosuppressive regimen and have therapeutic drug levels of immunosuppressive drugs at the time of IFN treatment. Finally, the use of ribavirin, a drug with immunomodulatory potential, may positively modulate the risk for acute rejection (113)....."
See: http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/3/563
Published ahead of print on March 14, 2007
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2: 563-575, 2007
© 2007 American Society of Nephrology
doi: 10.2215/CJN.02930806
The Kidney Transplant Recipient with Hepatitis C Infection: Pre- and Posttransplantation Treatment
Norah A. Terrault*, and Deborah B. Adey{dagger}
"...Treatment of HCV in kidney transplant recipients is not routinely recommended (35,69,70,99–101) because of concerns about IFN precipitating acute rejection. However, there are clinical circumstances in which a risk–benefit assessment may favor treatment, and some data suggest that certain transplant recipients will benefit from treatment with IFN monotherapy or IFN plus ribavirin combination therapy (Table 3) (71,72,102–105). For example, HCV-associated glomerulonephritides can recur after kidney transplantation and cause progressive renal dysfunction, and antiviral therapy may be needed to prevent graft loss (106,107). In addition, patients with advanced fibrosis (bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis) or severe cholestatic hepatitis warrant consideration of treatment to prevent death as a result of liver-related complications. Therefore, the decision to treat a kidney transplant recipient with IFN-based antiviral therapy must be individualized.
Several factors have been proposed to minimize the risk for acute rejection during antiviral therapy. Treatment in the first year after transplantation may increase the risk for acute rejection, which is already highest during this time (71). Antiviral therapy may be safer if given years after transplantation and in patients with stable graft function and no history of rejection (104,112). In addition, patients should be on a stable immunosuppressive regimen and have therapeutic drug levels of immunosuppressive drugs at the time of IFN treatment. Finally, the use of ribavirin, a drug with immunomodulatory potential, may positively modulate the risk for acute rejection (113)....."
See: http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/3/563
Published ahead of print on March 14, 2007
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2: 563-575, 2007
© 2007 American Society of Nephrology
doi: 10.2215/CJN.02930806
From your note, I understand that you are concerned about the correlation of kidney transplant/kidney function and the treatment drugs.
I don't know if there is anyone on the forum who is or has been in a similar situation. I know of a few who treated after having had a liver transplant.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable about these factors will chime in.
I don't know if there is anyone on the forum who is or has been in a similar situation. I know of a few who treated after having had a liver transplant.
Maybe someone more knowledgeable about these factors will chime in.
A lab study has shown that blueberry leaves contain a molecule that can inhibit HVC replication.
It has not been converted into a medication and as far as I am aware no human being has tested with any kind of blueberry leaf extract.
The only remedy is the anti-viral drugs described above
It has not been converted into a medication and as far as I am aware no human being has tested with any kind of blueberry leaf extract.
The only remedy is the anti-viral drugs described above
Sorry to hear about your brother.
Unfortunately there are no homeopathic or herbal medicines to cure this disease.
The hepatitis C virus is a very complicated virus. It replicates in the liver and infests itself in all organs. It even passes the blood brain barrier. Lowering the viral load with blueberry leaves does not cure the patient. One needs to get the virus load to 0 and keep it there forever. This is at this time only possible with combo therapy. 48 weeks would be normal for genotype 1.
There are new PI drugs in trials and they should be available by 2011. This is a third drug added to the combo treatment of Peginterferon and Ribavirin. These PI drugs significantly heighten the chance of successful treatment and aim at cutting the time of treatment to 24 weeks.
Marcia
Unfortunately there are no homeopathic or herbal medicines to cure this disease.
The hepatitis C virus is a very complicated virus. It replicates in the liver and infests itself in all organs. It even passes the blood brain barrier. Lowering the viral load with blueberry leaves does not cure the patient. One needs to get the virus load to 0 and keep it there forever. This is at this time only possible with combo therapy. 48 weeks would be normal for genotype 1.
There are new PI drugs in trials and they should be available by 2011. This is a third drug added to the combo treatment of Peginterferon and Ribavirin. These PI drugs significantly heighten the chance of successful treatment and aim at cutting the time of treatment to 24 weeks.
Marcia
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
