October 2002
Denise Greene, MD -- Oct 16

From the UC Davis Med Centr Dept. Psychiatry and Family Medicine and Director/co-founder of The Effort Dual Diagnosis Program, Dr. Greene will discuss Mental Health and medication issues associated with Hepatitis C.

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

November 20 -- Dr. Chris Bowlus, UCD
December 18 -- Potluck Dinner
January 15 -- Evonne Faucher, Schering Oncology Biotech
Contact Us:

Phone number: (916) 444-699
Email: dck@innercite.com (include "I Will Survive" in subject line or your message might be delected before being read).
Our Web Site> www.sacmall.net/transplant/hepc.html
More News
Our Meetings: Our Meetings: 3rd Wednesday of every month; at SCC (Sutter Cancer Center) classrooms 3&4 , 2800 L St (kitty corner across from the 2-story parking structure at 28th & L St. and 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).

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 The Sept./Oct. 2002 Hep C Connections:
...Italian researchers report correlation between progression to cirrhosis and age of HCV infection as follows: compared with those infected at age less than 20, those infected at age 21-30 are 4.51 times more likely to progress to cirrhosis. If infection occurs after the age of 31, the corresponding risk ratio increases to 12.29.
...Pediatric hepatologists deal with the beginning of a chronic illness in which long-term outcomes may not occur for 20 to 40 years. Treatment should be only for those with hepatic fibrosis. Measures to prevent HCV infection in childhood center on elective cesarean section to reduce risk of transmission. There is no evidence that breast-feeding confers risk of HCV infection.

From the October 2002 HCVAdvocate:
...ALT (formerly SGPT) is a liver function test. ALT is an enzyme produced when liver cells are damaged or die. ALT levels typically increase as a result of liver inflammation due to a variety of causes, including viral hepatitis, heavy alcohol use, or drug toxicity. An elevated ALT level which may be detected during a routine medical check-up is often the first sign that a person has a liver problem. ALT is considered the most specific biochemical marker for liver damage; other liver function tests such as AST, alkaline phosphatase, and GGT often signal other problems such as a heart attack or obstructed bile flow.
The upper limit of normal ALT is usually said to be about 40-50 for men and about 30-40 for women. But because these so-called normal ranges include people with liver disease, according to recent calculations by Dr.D.Prati with others (Italy), a more appropriate upper limit of normal ALT may be about 30 for men and about 20 for women. Acute hepatitis or hepatotoxicity can cause ALT to increase to as much as 50 times the normal level. More mild elevations (2-4 times normal) may signal possible damage to the liver. A single elevated ALT measurement is not very useful single normal ALT readings are common in people with chronic HCV. Trends over time are more informative. After initial infection with HCV, ALT levels typically rise within 4-12 weeks, but usually decline after several more weeks as the acute phase of hepatitis C ends. Studies show that some 30% of chronic HCV patients have persistently normal ALT levels, and another 40% have ALT levels
less than 2 times the upper limit of normal.
...Hepatitis C is associated with a wide range of dental problems ranging from dry mouth, to tooth decay, gum infections, tooth sensitivity and mouth infections which can dramatically affect ones quality of life.
...Antibodies against HCV are almost twice as common in African Americans (3.2%) compared with whites (1.8%), and rates of natural HCV viral clearance are 68% for African Americans vs. 91% for whites. Possible explanations are that more African Americans are employed as health care professionals that handle blood. Also, more African Americans receive blood transfusions due to treatment of sickle cell anemia. Almost all African Americans with HCV are infected with genotype 1 (91%, compared with 67% among whites). However, the rates of progression to cirrhosis among African Americans is lower than that of whites.
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



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