ALT Levels, prison treatment

[Large One]

I have an incarcerated friend in the Fl DOC system. His ALT levels over a 9 month period were 89-88-94. He was recomended for treatment but the DOC stopped it due to Pot in urine test.The DOC rules state the he must remain clean(urine tests) for a six months period before treatment can be restatred. They state that after the time he still has to go three tests over a 9 months period before recomending restart of treatment. So he could be well over a year total before recieving any meds.Also they say that all previous test results have no bearing on new recomendation. This inmate has been diagnosed with Hep-C. How harmfull to his chances will the delay be? He has no recourse except to try to get expert testemony to the effect that he needs to be on meds. After 9/11 we all understand that funds are short, but he was senteneced to a prison term, not death. On behalf of this inmate, I thank you.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hepatitis C is associated with liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.  Obviously, treatment would help alleviate some of these end points.  

To answer whether holding treatment would have any adverse effects, it would depend on how serious the hepatitis is.  A liver biopsy normally is done prior to treatment and this can determine the seriousness of the disease.  

Patients who have persistent elevation in serum ALT but do not have fibrosis and have minimal necroinflammatory changes on biopsy are likely to have only slow disease progression. Such patients can be monitored periodically.

However, if the biopsy is showing advanced liver disease, then holding treatment may have deleterious effects.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.