a few months ago, i read an article on treatment of hep c (genotype 1) in Europe was being reduced to 24 weeks, but that Americans, with their higher body fat, had to still do 48 weeks. does any one know where I can find that article?
yes that is true that the protocol in europe is 24 weeks with certain criteria as bill mentioned. I dont think it has anything to do us americans being fat. I think if anyone has a RVR they could stop at 24 weeks and still become SVR. I dont think it was studied enough here in the USA. Now with the new drugs coming out there is promise that tx will be only 24 weeks anyway.
this is what i am looking for. but somewhere I read that Americans have a higher body fat ratio and that with ribavirin being absorbed by fat, Americans had less of a chance to be able to go just 24 weeks.
http://www.aasld.org/practiceguidelines/Documents/Hepatitis%20C%20UPDATE.pdf
--Bill