Linked Life Data

18752386

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/18752386

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
2008-8-28
pubmed:abstractText
Chronic hepatitis C is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality and poses a considerable socioeconomic burden. Improved treatment regimens, including the standard of care pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, have increased sustained virologic response rates; however, treatment has a long duration and is often associated with adverse events that may affect adherence. The goal of therapy is viral eradication and reduced disease-related complications such as fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The clinical outcome of hepatitis C virus infection is altered with antiviral treatment, which can be influenced by host (e.g., weight, ethnicity, health) and viral (e.g., genotype, baseline viremia) factors. Overall, sustained virologic response was attained by 54-63% of patients in clinical trials treated with pegylated interferon alfa-2a or -2b and ribavirin. However, this benefit is not without risk. Interferon-induced adverse events include flu-like symptoms, bone marrow suppression, and emotional or cognitive effects, whereas hemolytic anemia accounts for most ribavirin dosage reductions. These adverse events may be ameliorated with dosage adjustments, symptom therapy, and judicious use of preventive strategies (e.g., antidepressants, hematopoietic growth factors). Appropriate management of adverse events can increase treatment adherence, thereby enhancing outcomes and improving quality of life. Pharmacists are in an ideal position to improve the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C by providing education about the disease and its treatments and associated adverse events and by emphasizing the importance of treatment adherence for successful outcomes.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0277-0008
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
28
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1151-61
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2008
pubmed:articleTitle
Treatment options for patients with hepatitis C: role of pharmacists in optimizing treatment response and managing adverse events.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California 90073, USA. glaliver@yahoo.com
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review