The patient in the case study presents with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. He has a drug abuse history and likely Hepatitis C. The current drug therapy includes Synthroid, Nifedipine, and Prednisone. The purpose of this assignment is to discuss the diagnosis and appropriate pharmacotherapy for the patient.
Hepatitis C infection is the presumptive diagnosis. This is a liver inflammation caused by Hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is spread through sexual intercourse with infected persons, sharing personal items, and sharing drug-injection equipment (Ghany et al., 2020). Most infected persons are asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases present symptoms like fatigue, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, pale feces, dark urine, myalgia, and jaundice (Jin, 2020). Therefore, Hepatitis C is the primary diagnosis because of the positive symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea and the client’s history of drug abuse and Hepatitis C infection.
The recommended drug therapy will include a combination of Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir (Technivie) for 12 weeks to treat Hepatitis C infection. Technivie is indicated for HCV infection in patients without cirrhosis. Ombitasvir inhibits HCV NS5A, which is needed for Hepatitis C viral replication. Paritaprevir inhibits NS3/4A serine protease required for proteolytic cleavage of the HCV-encoded polyprotein into mature forms (Wu et al., 2019). Ritonavir is a protease inhibitor that elevates paritaprevir serum levels. Nifedipine would be reduced to 10 mg and Prednisone to 5 mg since they are associated with GI side effects.
The patient’s nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea symptoms are consistent with Hepatitis C infection. Besides, the history of Hepatitis C and drug abuse make HCV infection the likely diagnosis. A combination of Ombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir will be recommended to treat the HCV infection,
Ghany, M. G., Morgan, T. R., & AASLDâIDSA hepatitis C guidance panel. (2020). Hepatitis C guidance 2019 update: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases–Infectious Diseases Society of America recommendations for testing, managing, and treating hepatitis C virus infection. Hepatology, 71(2), 686–721. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.31060
Jin, J. (2020). Screening for Hepatitis C Virus Infection. JAMA, 323(10), 1008-1008. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.1761
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