steiner@bgsuvax.UUCP (Ray Steiner) (07/22/88)
My wife has a severe(diagnosed case) of NonA-NonB hepatitis. In all probability she caught it from an accident she had with a Hawaiian Flying fish(Malolo) in November, 1986. She was swimming in the ocean off Maui when the fish hit her in the face. It then entered her mouth, causing severe lacerations of the gums and cheek. She escaped from the fish after biting it and ingesting its blood. About a month later she started having the symptoms listed below, and her problem was diagnosed at Cleveland Clinic in July, 1987. Her symptoms are as follows: 1). Spiking fevers(as high as 38.7 degrees C.) 2). Joint pains and swelling 3). Severe migraines triggered by the fevers. These can often last for weeks. 4). Tremendously high CPK(usual range 1300-2100) 5). Elevated cholesterol and other liver enzymes(Her SGOT has ranged from 700-2000 at times). 6). Chest pains 7). Severe abdomial pain and total loss of potassium. 8). Wide open sores on her face and buttocks. These respond for some strange reason to Noroxin, but when the Noroxin is stopped they reappear. We have tried to get her into one of the many studies involving interferon in the United States, but to no avail: 1). NIH is not currently accepting new patients for interferon studies. 2). Ditto for some other centres we have called. 3). Cleveland Clinic will only take you if you got the disease from a blood transfusion, are a street junkie or are a lab technician(protocol problems). Since my wife doesn't fall into any of these categories, we are up a creek. My question is: Is there an interferon study for Non-A, Non-B hepatitis which is currently accepting new patients without regard to protocol? If so, where is it and how can we get my wife enrolled? Any info anyone could provide would be most useful. Thanks Ray Steiner osu-cis!bgsuvax!steiner