Treatment can Benefit Patients With Both Thalassaemia and HCV

Due to contaminated transfusions before 1990,many individuals with the blood disorder thalassaemia also carry the hepatitis C virus (HCV).

A new study indicates that treatment with a combination of sofosbuvir and ledipasvir as a once a day single pill leads to a sustained virological response in 98% of patients with thalassaemia and HCV.

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Hepatitis C is an inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. It is primarily spread through blood and blood products, infected needles and from a pregnant mother to baby.

‘Due to the co-existence of iron overload (from repeated blood transfusions), these patients are at increased risk of developing liver cancer.’

"The findings are significant because, unlike other antiviral drugs, this simple treatment is expected not to be limited by drug-to-drug interactions with other medications usually taken by thalassaemia patients," said Dr. Alessandra Mangia, lead author of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics study.

Source-Eurekalert

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