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Phlebotomy Gaining Acceptance as HCV Treatment

http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/11/phlebotomy_gain.html

                                                                                                                                        Ron
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Avatar universal
Maggets are used with more frequency to clean up necrotic tissue. They only eat the dead and rotting tissue and leave the healthy tissue alone.
I believe phlebotomy has it's place, as it has been shown, but remember it's not something that can make everyone a lot of money, therefore it doesn't have the backing and support that drugs have.

Can you see 20 commercials a day telling you to "ask your doctor" if phlebotomy is right for you.

Unlike AIDS and breast cancer (and maybe ED) hep c has no voice in terms of awareness, funding, and overall support from so many people. Hep c victims must depend totally on profit based research with very little outside financial support. Sorry, my soap box. Don't want to get off topic.
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212705 tn?1221620650
I watched a program on PBS..oh a year ago. And yes, they were using leeches in a hospital setting. I don't recall the details...but I remember them saying it will become a common practice once again
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144210 tn?1273088782
Isn't phlebotomy blood letting? You mean those medievel barbers were on to something? Leeches anyone?
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264121 tn?1313029456
actually, I've brought this one up before too.  I'm excited about the concept of phlebotomy used with HCV meds as a way to possibly shorten treatment protocols.  There is a Japanese company that has patented a machine they feel would work well in delivering this type of medication protocol.  I posted on it before, too tired to go look for it at the moment.

I'm sure most of you are bored to tears with hearing me say this, but my doctor did use phlebotomy (over a period of a few weeks) in order to chelate my system from an overdose of iron, and it worked very well.  I'm grateful to him for being willing to talk to some researchers on the topic two or three years ago when that occurred and going ahead with that treatment, because at the time I was pretty convinced it was the only thing TO do in order to rid myself of the extra iron before it caused damage.

There are more liver dialysis units springing up around the country now that are usually used in toxicity cases, or sometimes as a bridge to transplant (not really good evidence yet that it works that well as a bridge unfortunately).  I think though, and this is just my personal opinion, that we are seeing the beginning of an era where liver dialysis is used in many cases and is commonplace, much as renal dialysis is already used.
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Avatar universal
Google phlebotomy hep c treatment and you will find some links.
I like hearing that this may be of some help combined with other drugs. Of course ribavirin is out of the question unless maybe low doses due to the rbc issues.
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Avatar universal
jamin: I believe (PHLEBOTOMY is) what got me in trouble in the first place.
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Yeah, you have to be careful with those high-risk sexual practices :)

BTW the link does work. Check to see it copied over correctlyl
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Avatar universal
P.S.  the link didn't work for me either.  S.
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Avatar universal
sitting here all alone laughing.  you're too funny
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315094 tn?1201390050
What the heck are you guys talking about? The link above did not work, so now I'm really curious...PHLEBOTOMY??????????
I believe that's what got me in trouble in the first place.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for posting. Unlike some other stuff, I see "Phlebotomy" as one of those promising adjuncts to treatment as one that has little downside and a potentially big upside for the right candidates. If I wasn't SVR, I'd certainly be researching this more and talking to my liver specialist about it.

-- Jim
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