Can hepatitis C be cured?
The chance of being cured depends in part upon the specific type of hepatitis C virus (i.e., the specific “genotype”). Overall, the chance is in the range of 40 to 50 percent for the most common genotype (i.e., genotype 1) in the United States. The best chance (in the range of 80 percent or more) occurs with genotypes 2 and 3. Pakistan has predominantly genotype 3; therefore the response rate is between 80-90%. The recommendation duration of treatment for genotype 1 is 48 weeks, whereas for genotype 2 and 3 it is usually 24 weeks. Your doctor will discuss whether treatment is a good option for you and the likelihood that you will respond. During therapy, your doctor will monitor the level of the virus in your blood, with the goal of completely eliminating it. Therapy may be stopped early if you do not respond; otherwise treatment is continued for six to 12 months (depending in large part upon the specific genotype). However, you will have to wait for six months after therapy to determi
