Dr. Joe Galati There is so much information available on the new hepatitis C drugs, that at times, it can be overwhelming for the patient. It's amazing to think that we now have a cure rate of over 95% for the majority of patients who have hepatitis C. Yet despite the use of these amazing new drugs that have been FDA approved, many patients and they are family members still don't fully understand what needs to be done, and how to go about getting access to these new therapies. Even the most seasoned patient find navigating the system difficult. For those with hepatitis C, whether you have been treated, or new to antiviral therapy, below all are a few tips to follow; If you have hepatitis C, you want to make sure you have all of the necessary medical records …
Today, the FDA approved the latest drug to treat hepatitis C. Manufactiured by Gilead, a combination of Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir, it has a better than 95% cure rate. Called Harvoni, it will be available shortly for patients. For more information, call our office at 713-794-0700 for more details.
Our latest video posting discusses the basic aspects of alcohol, and its effects on the liver. You can view the video here on YouTube, or simply watch below. Additional links and information on alcohol can be found here.
Over the past several years, has been growing research evidence that individuals that have hepatitis C are at greater risk for developing scarring in the liver, fibrosis, and eventual development of cirrhosis. These patients also are likely to be overweight, have a superimposed fatty liver, diabetes, and increased levels of insulin circulating in their blood. All of these features trigger inflammation throughout the body, and especially in the liver, putting them at risk for damage and scar tissue development. We previously have discussed the role of diet and hepatitis C, and the simple truth is that there is no special diet specific for hepatitis C. We always recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables, fresh lean meat, chicken, and fish, and the avoidance of processed foods. These processed foods are high and salt, sugar, and fat. They have very little …
Listed below are the updated hepatitis C research protocols that Liver Specialists of Texas and Dr. Galati are currently conducting. The studies are in various stages of enrollment, and some may have already met the limit of how many patients we can enroll. A PDF version is available here. New studies are being added every few weeks, so depending on your situation, and past experience with hepatitis C treatment, new opportunities may be available soon. Currently, the ongoing studies are making use of both interferon based therapies, as well as interferon-free therapies. It is probable that the next wave of FDA approvals will be for the interferon-free protocols. Kindly call Dee Wade at 713-794-0700 to inquire about hepatitis C research opportunities. Research Specialists of Texas List of Ongoing Studies No. Sponsor Protocol # Protocol …
A You Tube video of the announcement by Dr. Joe Galati is posted, discussing how Liver Specialists of Texas will evaluate and treat both new and old patients with Boceprevir. After years of research, and great anticipation by patients and physicians involved in the care of patients with hepatitis C, Boceprevier was finially approved yesterday. Yesterday was a very important day for those of us involved in the care of patients with hepatitis C, as well as the millions of individuals affected by it. I received word yesterday afternoon that the FDA has approved boceprevir for the treatment of G1 CHC in previously untreated patients and patients who have failed previous interferon and ribavirin therapy. Boceprevir is the first in class direct acting antiviral to be FDA approved for CHC. Manufactured by Merck pharmaceutical company, the …
A new financial report by Conatus, a company who is involved with HCV drug development, reports continued investment in their new HCV drugs. We are fortunate that we are conducting studies with their new agents, with good results. For more information, read the blog entry here.
In this podcast, Dr. Joe Galati discusses the liver transplant evaluation process that is used at The Methodist Hospital Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation. Individuals with end-stage liver disease, who have experienced various complication of cirrhosis, are considered for transplantation. Diseases that lead to cirrhosis include the following: chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver, autoimmune disorders, and other genetic disorders of the liver. The evaluation process usually takes place as an out-patient, where you are seen by one of our liver transplant surgeons, as well as specialized nurse coordinators, social worker, dietitian, financial counselors, and other medical specialists such as cardiology, psychiatry, and lung specialists as needed. Once evaluated and approved, patients are listed for transplant. Priority for transplant is based on the MELD score. The higher the MELD score, the …
Click here to read the latest press release from Liver Specialists of Texas, released September 25, 2008.
Erin Yates, PA-C Liver Specialists of Texas Hepatitis is simply an inflammation of the liver. There are multiple causes of hepatitis including very common viruses such as hepatitis A, B and C. Hepatitis A virus is spread by close personal contact with someone who has the infection, eating food prepared by someone with hepatitis A or drinking contaminated water. Hepatitis B virus is a sexually transmitted disease or may be passed from a hepatitis B infected mother to child. It is not spread by shaking hands or hugging. The tables below show people at high risk of contracting hepatitis A and B. TABLE 1: High risk populations Hepatitis A (HAV) Hepatitis B (HBV) Travelers to developing countries with high rates of HAV (includes Mexico) Men who have sex with men IV drug users People exposed to hepatitis A in a research setting People who work with infected non-human primates …