Hepatitis C Management

Ask The Experts

Question

A female patient who has had hepatitis C for 3½ years was sent to a GI specialist, who started interferon therapy. The patient had a very bad adverse reaction to it, and in less than a year, her PCR had substantially increased to nearly twice the level. Her liver enzymes are slightly elevated. Is the doubling of the PCR a concern?

There is no correlation between HCV RNA titer and progression of liver disease (unlike HIV). HCV RNA may fluctuate up and down over time, but that should not be a cause of alarm.

For more information, see the treatment of HCV section in the Hepatitis C Management monograph.