August 2003
Thank you Wild Wild Web and Geno Bartley. The good work you do
hosting and maintaining our website really makes a difference!
August 20 -- Dr. Pimstone

Classrooms 3&4
Chief of Hepatology, UC Davis; named by the American Liver Foundation the 1999 Physician of the Year for contributions to research, teaching and clinical service in hepatology

Upcoming Agendas:
Meeting Agenda:
6:30 p.m. (sharp) - Theme Song: I Will Survive
6:35 - 6:45 Announcements
6:45 - 8:15 Dr. Neville Pimstone
8:15 - 8:45 (or earlier) questions/answers 'til we adjourn

September 17 -- Clsrm 3&4 --support group members interact
Quarterly Business Meeting of I Will Survive

5:30 p.m., August 20, 2003 -- ClsRm 3&4
Due to lack of a quorum last month, the quarterly business meeting is re-scheduled for August 20. On the agenda will be issues of group advertising, thank yous for guest speakers, meeting room reservation for 2004 and this question: "does I Will Survive have a sustainable mission?"
More News
Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesdays of every month; at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center, aka: Buhler Bldg) classroom 3&4 or Room 220; 2800 L St (@ 28th & L: kitty corner across from the 2-story parking & across L St. from Sutter Hospital)
Contact Us: Phone number: (916) 444-6996
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).
*New readers of this newsletter, see the following.
If you want to be included on our mailing/emailing list and you can afford to include a donation, make it to "I Will Survive, The Effort", P.O. Bx 2180, Loomis, CA 95650 for:
$24 if you want the Newsletter by U.S. mail
$15 if you get the Newsletter from the website (if you wish, each month we'll email a link to you)
$ 0 if, right now, you can't afford to pay dues. In which case "I Will Survive" will mail monthly Newsletters to you. Please contribute to the "Donations" Box at the meetings as you are able.

From May 31, 2003 Science News (quoted from the May "Nature Biotechnology"):
Human liver cells were implanted into mice which were then infected with hepatitis C. 5 out of the 6 mice that received a gene therapy that induces infected liver cells to self-destruct showed decreased amounts of hepatitis C virus in the tissue. Two of those 5 cleared the virus completely.
From August HCV Advocate
...From the Digestive Disease Week Conference in Orlando: A study concluded that African Americans and Asians with HCV cirrhosis may have 3 and 6 times higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as compared to their Caucasian counterparts, independent of age, gender, severity of liver disease, and alcohol use. High-risk ethnic patients may be among those with HCV cirrhosis who would benefit the most from HCC screening; a genetic study of liver cancer in a racially diverse population should be carried out.
...There are numerous systems affected by the hepatitis C virus. The following discussion focuses on the dermatologic disorders that can occur in patients with hepatitis C.
......Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a rare skin disorder which seems to be related to the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The skin and the liver are the two main sites affected by PCT. Skin lesions and skin sensitivity to light characterize the disease. Exposure to the sun or any minor trauma can cause redness and severe blistering. PCT can also cause skin discoloration, either darkening or lightening of the skin, increased facial hair, and thickening of the skin.
......Lichen planus is characterized by flat-topped, shiny, itchy papules (bumps). It typically affects the skin, nails, mucous membranes (esp. the mouth), vulva, and penis. There is a characteristic lacelike pattern on the surface of the papules and plaques (a patch on the skin or on a mucous surface). The most common sites of skin involvement are the bending surfaces of the extremities, particularly the wrists. There is often intense itching or pain as the lesions ulcerate or erode. The disease often heals with significant skin discoloration.
......Vasculitis may occur in conjunction with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia. Vasculitis may be directly caused by a drug, occur in association with a known disorder, such as infection (essential mixed cryoglobulinemia with HCV), or occur from an unknown cause. The symptoms of vasculitis are thought to be due to immune complexes being deposited in the blood vessels. The common symptoms include purpura (discoloration of the skin caused by bleeding vessels) and petechiae (red pin point rash caused by minute hemorrhaging) usually involving the lower extremities. Fever, urticaria (itching, welts), muscle aches, and enlarged lymph nodes are other common symptoms. Some patients even experience peripheral neuropathy, which is a tingling or numbness of the feet or hands due to decreased blood flow to the area. The disorder is usually acute, but can be chronic when associated with hepatitis. Visceral organ involvement is rare, but it can affect the kidneys, liver, and rarely the lung, heart, and central nervous system. To make the diagnosis of vasculitis, the patient must meet three or more of the following criteria: age greater than 16, use of possible offending drug, palpable purpura, rash, biopsy of lesion showing white blood cells around a small artery or vein. Skin biopsies typically show inflammation of the small blood vessels.

If you have no money or insurance call:
Sacramento Clinical Trials
Schering's Commitment to Care 1-800-521-7157
Infergen's Safety Net Program 1-888-508-8088
Roche's Patient Assistance 1-800-443-6676
Dr. Gish, et al, call: Pacific Hepatology, (916) 443-0503
Dr. Pimstone UCD Med Center, (916) 734-1557
Dr. Rossaro UCD Med Cntr, call: Katherine Suggett (916) 734-8696



Return to Hep C Support Page

Web Page Design and Hosting by
SacMall.Net - Sacramento, CA