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Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital collaborate to
address the unmet need of treating hepatitis C in pregnancy and infancy
 
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First in Chicago to offer an innovative treatment plan outside of clinical trials for pregnant patients, as the CDC releases new guidelines for testing infants exposed to the virus during pregnancy  
Chicago, IL – November 1, 2023 – Driven by the ongoing opioid epidemic and the sharing of needles, hepatitis C cases have been rising in the United States over the last decade, with the highest infection rates among young adults, including women of childbearing age. Without treatment, hepatitis C can lead to acute and chronic hepatitis, increasing the risk of liver cancer, liver failure and other conditions. During pregnancy, hepatitis C has been associated with low birthweight, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and preterm birth. The standard of care for treating hepatitis C in a pregnant person is to initiate treatment postpartum, which can start as soon as the person gives birth, but this approach has significant limitations. [ to be clear treatment during pregnancy is not yet FDA approved but AASLD Guidelines say that with a full discussion between doctor & patient, treatment can be administered. There is some data - links below - showing efficacy but safety is being looked at in ongoing studies. Jules.
New Study HCV Treatment During Pregnancy - Enrollment Open STORC Study - (11/22/22);  
HCV Treatment During Pregnancy; Guidelines, New Study; Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With HCV].  
Under the guidance of specialists at Northwestern Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, an innovative treatment plan is now being offered during pregnancy, allowing the pregnant person to be cured of hepatitis C during the course of prenatal care, which may also substantially mitigate or even eliminate the risk of transmitting hepatis C to the baby.  
https://news.nm.org/northwestern-medicine-and-lurie-childrens-hospital-collaborate-to-address-the-unmet-need-of-treating-hepatitis-c-in-pregnancy-and-infancy/  
Northwestern Medicine and Lurie Children’s Hospital will soon be part of a national study conducted by the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network (IMPAACT), which will enroll eligible patients who are pregnant with confirmed hepatitis C and undergoing treatment.  
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USA study: Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C During Pregnancy With Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir - (12/04/20)  
Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir Pharmacokinetics in Pregnant Women with Hepatitis C Virus
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