While visiting Medscape (accessed 7-23-2014) to read a medical article, I was first presented with this ad from the Gilead Corporation, a pharmaceutical company that makes a treatment for Hepatitis C viral liver infection:
Warning: What Follows is an Ad from the Gilead Corporation [which I think is useful].
Of the ~3.2 million Americans with chronic HCV, only half are aware that they are infected1-3 and only 5%-6% have been successfully treated1
Many undiagnosed individuals are unaware that they have been infected for years, and are at risk of developing liver complications1-4
An estimated 75% of patients with HCV are baby boomers, persons born between 1945 and 1965, who may have been infected for 20 years or more5
Liver complications due to HCV are continuing to increase3
HCV is the leading cause of liver transplantation7 and liver cancer8,9
By 2007, the HCV mortality rate surpassed that of HIV, and continued to rise10-12
Liver complications contribute to shorter lifespan10
HCV management has evolved. Take action with three simple steps:
SCREEN all baby boomers and at-risk individuals for HCV antibodies.
The CDC, USPSTF, and AASLD recommend a one-time screening of all baby boomers, those born between 1945 and 1965, regardless of risk factors13-15
Age-based and risk-based screening should occur regardless of clinical signs, such as abnormal liver enzyme levels, or symptoms13-15
DIAGNOSE all HCV antibody-positive patients with an HCV RNA test.
Not all patients who test positive for HCV antibodies are chronically infected, so the diagnosis must be confirmed with an HCV RNA test
REFER diagnosed patients to an HCV specialist for treatment evaluation—regardless of clinical symptoms.
Treatment has been shown to be more effective at early-stage disease16
Quality referrals are essential to help ensure that your patients meet with their HCV specialist and move closer to potential cure
To help bring your patients closer to potential cure, order The HCV Toolkit
The HCV Toolkit can provide important information on your role in HCV and help improve communication with patients, as well as daily management of billing and patient follow-up.
Request The HCV Toolkit [This is a commercial link to a Gilead Corporation webpage.]
References
Holmberg SD et al. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(20):1859-1861.
Moorman AC et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2013;56(1):40-50.
CDC. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(18):357-361.
CDC. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998;47(RR-19):1-39.
CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HCV/statisticsHCV.htm.
Davis GL et al. Gastroenterology. 2010;138(2):513-521.
Kim WR et al. Am J Transplant. 2014;14(suppl 1):69-96.
Yang JD et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2012;87(1):9-16.
El-Serag HB. Gastroenterology. 2012;142(6):1264-1273.e1.
Ly KN et al. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156(4):271-278.
Murphy SL et al. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr61/nvsr61_04.pdf.
CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/statistics/2010surveillance.
Smith BD et al. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2012;61(RR-4):1-32.
USPSTF. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf12/
hepc/hepcfinalrs.htm.
AASLD. https://www.hcvguidelines.org/.
Bruno S et al. Hepatology. 2010;51(2):388-397.
All of the Above is An Ad from the Gilead Corporation which I believe is useful.
