Dr. Laleh A Merikhi Gastroenterologist Oakhurst NJ

Dr. Laleh A Merikhi Gastroenterologist Oakhurst NJ

Dr. Laleh Merikhi is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Dr. Merikhi’s special interests include Colorectal Cancer Screening, Celiac Disease, functional GI disorders, including IBS, Gastrointestinal motility disorders, specifically esophageal and anorectal disorders.  She also focuses on digestive diseases specific to women.

In addition, to performing EGD, Colonoscopy, and Capsule Endoscopy,  Dr. Merikhi performs Esophageal Manometry, Ano-rectal Manometry, biofeedback training, and esophageal PH monitoring, including Bravo PH test.

Services/Qualifications

• Colonoscopy
• Colon Cancer Screening
• EGD And EGD With Dilitation
• ERCP
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS)
• Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy
• 48 HR Bravo PH Study
• Hemorrhoid Treatments (IRC And Banding)
• Esophageal Manometry/Motility
• Anal Manometry
• Barrett's Treatment
• Remicaid Infusions

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

Dr. Laleh Merikhi is a graduate of Tehran Azad University.  She completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine as well as a Fellowship in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia

Dr. Merikhi is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. She is a member of ACG, ASGE, and AGA. She has published several original research articles in peer-reviewed journals during her training.

Hospital Affiliations

• Monmouth Medical Center –Long Branch
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center – Neptune

Insurance Accepted

Monmouth Gastroenterology/ A Division of Allied Digestive Health participates with most major insurance companies.

Q&A

Hepatitis C can show no symptoms until advanced liver damage develops.

Hepatitis C is a treatable disease if identified before significant complications develop.

HOW COMMON IS THE HEPATITIS C?

Hepatitis C virus is the most common cause of chronic viral liver disease in the United States. It is estimated that 1.8% of the U.S population (about 4 million Americans) are infected with Hepatitis C.

The majority of the Hepatitis C patients were likely infected during the 1970s and 1980s when rates were highest. CDC estimates that there are 30,000 new acute cases of hepatitis C each year.

In the United States, Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common cause of liver fibrosis (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

WHO IS AT RISK FOR HEPATITIS C INFECTION?

Hepatitis C is spread primarily by contact with blood and blood products. The use of injection illicit drugs is the most common mode of disease transmission including those people who injected illicit drugs only one time many years ago. People who received blood transfusions, transfusion of blood products, or organ donations prior to 1992 at a time when more sensitive tests for HCV were introduced for blood screening, are at risk for Hepatitis C infection.

Other persons at increased risk for Hepatitis C include long term dialysis patients, people with tattoos and body piercing other than pierced ears, health care workers after exposure (ie, needle stick or splashes to the eye) from the blood of an infected patient, infants born to HCV-infected mothers, people with high –risk sexual behavior, multiple partners and sexually transmitted diseases, people who snore cocaine using shared equipment and people who have shared toothbrushes, razors and other personal items with a family member who is HCV infected.

Hepatitis C can be transmitted by sex, but this is rare, accounting for less than 1% of overall cases. Sexual transmission is more common in men having sex with men.

IS THERE A VACCINE FOR HEPATITIS C?

No, at the present time the Hepatitis C vaccine is not available.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEPATITIS C?

The majority of people with chronic Hepatitis C have no symptoms of liver disease, but some patients may complain of abdominal pain, fatigue, itching, or nausea.  Once the patient develops cirrhosis, signs, and symptoms may be more prominent. These symptoms may include confusion, jaundice (yellowish eyes and skin), abnormal bleeding, easy bruising, and abdominal swelling.

Hepatitis C can also cause diabetes (this is related to the body’s immune response to the virus and occurs three times more frequently in hepatitis C infected patients), kidney disease, and skin rash.

HOW is HEPATITIS C BEING DIAGNOSED?

Several blood tests are available to check for detecting the Hepatitis C antibody and Hepatitis C viral load.

You should know that the liver enzymes could be completely normal in many patients with HCV  infection, so it is very important to ask your doctor to check the HCV antibody if you have or had any risk factors for HCV infection.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

A diagnosis of Hepatitis C infection doesn’t necessarily mean you need treatment.  If you have only slight liver abnormalities, you may not need treatment, because your risk of a future liver problem is very low. Hepatitis C infection is treated with antiviral medications intended to clear the virus from your body.

Patients with chronic Hepatitis C should receive genotype testing to determine the treatment approach. There are six types of Hepatitis C genotypes and patients have different responses to treatment depending on their genotype.  A combination of medications taken over several weeks (between 6 months to one year) with Pegylated interferon and Ribavirin is the treatment of choice.  Although Depends on the Genotype you may need to undergo combination therapy with three medications (Pegylated interferon, Ribavirin  and  Telaprevir or  Boceprevir).

If you have or had any risk factors for Hepatitis C, talk to your doctor to be screened for Hepatitis C.