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UTHSCSA
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Hepatitis C Cure & Liver Research
By Francisco González-Scarano, MD
The School of Medicine at the UT Health Science Center is at rect antiviral agents (DAA) in the research setting long before most
the forefront of another major medical milestone: a 90 percent cure were aware of the existence of such revolutionary medications.
rate for people with hepatitis C (genotype 1) who have diseased/cir-
rhotic livers. This cure rate includes liver transplant patients with a Local risk factors
recurrence of hepatitis C. This research is immediately transforma- South Texas, and Hispanics in particular, suffer from a higher in-
tional in healthcare because these patients have very much to lose
and a cure can not only save their lives, but also bring back a quality cidence of liver disease and liver cancer, as well as cancers of the
of life that was unprecedented just a few years ago. cervix, stomach and gallbladder. This makes San Antonio an ideal
location for the Texas Liver Institute. The community also shows
The new treatment is part of the revolution that is taking place higher obesity rates, which is also a key risk factor for liver disease.
in hepatitis C research where just five years ago the cure rates were The pathology of fatty liver disease is similar to that of alcoholism,
between 50 and 70 percent and still included significant side effects. although there is still much to be learned about the conditions. The
This new research was conducted through the Texas Liver Institute most vulnerable group – patients with chronic liver disease or a
(TLI) which we established in 2012 with the arrival of national ex- transplant, combined with hepatitis C – have been the focus of Dr.
perts Fred Poordad, MD, and Eric Lawitz, MD, clinical professors Poordad’s work and considerable progress over the last two years.
of medicine. The TLI is a multi-center partnership with the School
of Medicine and University Health System. Though a non-profit, The new regimen is based on a multi-drug cocktail that combines
it generates its own revenues from clinical practice and research DAAs and uses no interferon – the traditional staple of hepatitis
grants. treatments that has many dangerous side effects. Dr. Poordad was
the lead author on the multi-site study published in the New Eng-
Before working on hepatitis C, Dr. Poordad focused on Fatty land Journal of Medicine in May of 2014 that detailed the treat-
Liver Disease (FLD). He realized hepatitis was a much greater prob- ment of hepatitis C patients with severe liver disorders combined
lem and began working exclusively on the disease as well as working with hepatitis C. Dr. Poordad also presented his data at the Inter-
with liver and kidney transplant patients. Drs. Poordad and Lawitz national Liver Congress in London last year and as a result of this
were fortunate to have some of the first hepatitis C patients in the and other research, the FDA gave the regimen a “Breakthrough
world that were cured. They were on the forefront of using new di- Therapy Designation”, recognition that it may substantially im-
30 San Antonio Medicine • December 2015
