During our Skype
conversation with Dr. Thimme, he gave us a clearer understanding of Hepatitis C
and its treatment. Hepatitis C is a cytolytic virus transmitted through contact
with blood. Therefore, it can be common amongst heroin addicts and people given
a tainted blood transfusion before the introduction of blood screenings. Four
million people in the US have Hepatitis C, yet many do not realize it. It was
discovered in 1989 by Michael Halten. This discovery led to the use of blood
screening in order to identify potentially harmful discrepancies. In some third
world countries, blood screenings are inaccessible due to their relatively high
cost. In Egypt, specifically, ten percent of the population is infected with
virus. In some regions of Egypt, entire villages are infected due to previous
use of a single syringe to vaccinate the whole village.
The symptoms of
Hepatitis C are inflammation of the liver and the formation of scar tissue on
the liver (liver cytosis). Unfortunately, liver cytosis can lead to liver
cancer. In the world, the average age of diagnosis is 20 years old. However, in
Germany, the average age of diagnosis is 40-50 years old with the discovery of
liver cytosis. Eighty percent of all Hepatitis C patients do not have
complications. The other twenty percent develop liver cytosis. Research has
shown that young, pregnant women with Hepatitis C are at a lower risk for
developing liver cytosis.
The virus has been
treated using HCV therapy. Primarily, interferon has been prescribed as a
remedy. The downside to interferon therapy is that it has flu-like symptoms
among other equally undesirable side effects. There are some problems with the
current treatment. First, only thirty percent of patients are able to clear the
virus. Second, failure of the killer cells is widespread. Three current goals
for scientists are: to identify and prevent the cause of killer cell
dysfunction, to develop IPN free therapy and to keep symptoms from returning.
