Larger rate of spontaneous clearance of the hepatitis C virus?

Newsletter Hep CBC Oct 2010

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37% SPONTANEOUS CLEARANCE

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A Danish study (the DANVIR CohortStudy) published in July 2010 has some interesting results that show a larger rate of spontaneous clearance of the hepatitis C virus virus than thought earlier.

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The study looked back at almost 6300 patients who tested positive for the virus at least once between1996 and 2005. The real purpose of the study was to compare death rates of thos ewith spontaneous clearances to those who continue to be infected, so the subjects had to be alive at least one year after the test. The researchers took into account age, sex, other illnesses, alcohol and drug use, and income. 37% cleared the virus with no treatment.

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Survival rates showed 92% of those who cleared the virus and 86% who didn’t were alive after 5 years. Liver-related deaths were twice as high in the group who didn’t clear the virus, and death rates from liver cancer were 16 times higher. The researchers recommended early antiviral treatment for chronic HCV+ patients.

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Source: www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2010/0830_2010_a.html