Background: Patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who have achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) currently undergo indefinite imaging every 6-12 months to screen for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although current research shows there is liver remodeling with regression of fibrosis/cirrhosis after HCV treatment, it is unclear if improvements in the features of cirrhosis [...]

Background: As of April 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends one-time Hepatitis C testing for all adults age 18 and over and all pregnant women during every pregnancy. Previous research shows that Emergency Departments (ED) are effective settings for screening and diagnosing individuals for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). The purpose of this [...]

Background: There is an estimated 160,000 individuals that have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in New Jersey. HCV is a well-known and widespread challenge to personal, societal, and governmental resources and ultimately, human life. Current guidelines from the USPSTF recommend offering a 1-time screening for HCV infection to adults born between 1945 and [...]

Background: There are an estimated 3.5 million people in the United States living with Hepatitis C virus (HCV); 75-85% of those will develop a chronic infection that can result in liver complications. It is crucial to identify positive infections immediately to ensure linkage to a provider and prevent the advancement of HCV. Initial face-to-face contact [...]

Background: Healthcare costs continue to represent a growing burden on the American economy.  Current research has focused on methods to eliminate unnecessary tests or procedures to save costs and prevent waste.  Hepatitis C antibody testing represents one example of a test that, when positive, almost never needs to be repeated in a patient’s lifetime. Once [...]

Background: Veterans in care at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers have a higher prevalence of Hepatitis C (HCV) antibody positivity than the general population1,2. Despite high tolerability and cure rates approaching 95% with new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) drugs, a significant proportion of veterans have not been initiated on treatment due to barriers including active substance [...]

Case Presentation: A 65 year old African American male with a past medical history of non-obstructive CAD and chronic hepatitis C with cirrhosis presented to the emergency room with one episode of hematochezia.  Vital signs on presentation were significant for BP 104/61 and HR 103. A digital rectal exam revealed bright red blood. Labs were [...]

Case Presentation: A 56 year-old woman with a history of untreated Hepatitis C, anal cancer status post chemotherapy and radiation, current IV heroin use, and MRSA tricuspid valve endocarditis presented with lethargy, jaundice, abdominal pain, oliguria, fevers and lower extremity swelling and rash. On arrival, she initially had fluid-responsive hypotension and fever up to 102. [...]

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old man with a history of alcoholic cirrhosis and treated hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as well as IV opioid use presented to the hospital with elevated liver function tests on intake labs at a substance abuse facility. Several years prior to presentation, he completed hepatitis C infection treatment with ledipasvir/sofosbuvir with [...]

Case Presentation: Most complications of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, such as progressive fibrosis and cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), are related to chronic infection. Upon adequate treatment of HCV with sustained virologic response (SVR), patients without prior bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis are at a lower risk of developing complications. This is a [...]