On the occasion of World Hepatitis Day (July 28), a Mass General Brigham specialist warns that thousands of people could be living with hepatitis C without knowing it, which delays treatment and increases the risk of cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Although it is a curable disease today, hepatitis C continues to be one of the great challenges for public health. According to the Dominican Society of Gastroenterology, around 257,000 Dominicans are living with hepatitis C without having been diagnosed, a situation that can delay access to treatment and increase the risk of serious complications, such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and even premature death. This gap places the detection and treatment of hepatitis C at the center of efforts to reduce the burden of the disease.
Every July 28th, World Hepatitis Day draws attention precisely to this challenge; since having treatments capable of curing the disease is not enough when thousands of people are unaware that they are living with the virus and, therefore, do not receive medical attention in time.
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Part of the problem is that hepatitis C can remain hidden for years or even decades. In most cases, it does not cause pain or obvious symptoms in its early stages, so many people continue with their daily lives without suspecting that the virus is progressively affecting the liver.
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The good news is that today hepatitis C can be cured if it is detected in time and treated promptly. For Lawrence S. Friedman, a gastroenterologist at Mass General Brigham, “hepatitis C is one of the great success stories of modern medicine.” He adds that “not only can it be cured, but the treatment is simple.”
Hepatitis C: what it is and what its symptoms are
But what is hepatitis C and how is it transmitted? It is an infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which is transmitted from one person to another through the blood and causes inflammation of the liver. When the infection becomes chronic and remains undiagnosed and untreated for years, the progressive damage can lead to scarring of the liver (fibrosis), cirrhosis, liver failure, and even increase the risk of developing liver cancer.
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Regarding the symptoms and signs of hepatitis C, the disease rarely causes obvious signs in its early stages. When these do appear, the most frequent manifestation is a persistent feeling of mild to moderate tiredness or fatigue.
The specialist from Mass General Brigham, a healthcare system that provides care and support to patients from all over the world, details that hepatitis C can present in two forms. Acute hepatitis C corresponds to the initial stage of the infection and occurs during the first six months after exposure to the virus. On the other hand, chronic hepatitis C develops when the body fails to eliminate the virus and the infection remains over time, becoming a long-term condition that can remain active for years.
Although many people with acute hepatitis C also do not experience discomfort, some may experience signs and symptoms such as dark urine, clay-colored stools, fatigue, fever, yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), joint pain, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, or abdominal discomfort.
Who is at higher risk of contracting hepatitis C?
Although anyone can acquire the disease under certain circumstances, there are groups that have a higher probability of exposure to the virus and that could benefit from early detection and treatment of hepatitis C.
Dr. Friedman points out that one of the main risk factors is contact with infected blood, as the hepatitis C virus is primarily transmitted through this route. Situations that increase the risk include having received blood transfusions, undergoing hemodialysis treatments, or sharing needles, syringes, or other materials used to prepare or inject drugs.
It also points out that there is greater exposure in people who, for work-related reasons, have frequent contact with blood, such as health professionals, healthcare personnel, or members of public security services.
Other associated factors include living with a weakened immune system, having been born to a person with hepatitis C, or having conditions that increase exposure to the virus, such as certain sexually transmitted infections. In the sexual sphere, the risk can increase when there are multiple partners or practices that favor contact with blood.
A new era in hepatitis C treatment
But is hepatitis C curable and what is its treatment? What for decades was one of the main causes of advanced liver disease is today considered an infection that can be cured in most cases. “We have set the goal of eliminating hepatitis C and all hepatitis viruses by 2030,” notes Dr. Friedman.
Currently, the treatment consists of oral medications administered over relatively short periods (between 8 and 12 weeks), with few side effects and cure rates exceeding 95%.
“Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C has been one of the most common reasons for needing a liver transplant,” explains Dr. Friedman. “But that number is decreasing because we can now cure hepatitis C and prevent cirrhosis. In fact, we can even reverse cirrhosis in some cases.”
For the specialist, it is essential that people with risk factors consult their doctor about the advisability of undergoing screening tests, since a timely diagnosis allows for the early initiation of hepatitis C treatment and improves the prognosis. Healthcare systems, such as Mass General Brigham, offer support at every stage of the health process, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary team that works together to establish a treatment plan that addresses health in a holistic way.
Without a doubt, detecting hepatitis C early today can completely change the prognosis. “Do not be afraid to get tested or to receive treatment,” says Friedman. “We can make hepatitis C a thing of the past.”
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About Mass General Brigham
Mass General Brigham is a healthcare system that brings together the best minds in medicine to improve the lives of patients around the world. The system is comprised of 16 hospitals, including 5 ranked among the best nationally by US News & World Report: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mass Eye and Ear, McLean Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation; as well as community and specialty centers, health insurance plans, physician networks, home care, and long-term care services.
Mass General Brigham is a non-profit organization committed to patient care, teaching, and research. With an annual budget of nearly $2 billion, the Mass General Brigham research program is one of the largest in the U.S., funding more than 2,700 clinical trials. Additionally, it is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations and the principal teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
For more information about Mass General Brigham, visit massgeneralbrigham.org/international
