title: Interferon therapy for chronic HCV hepatitis: trick or treat?
abstract: Chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common condition that leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current treatment with interferon is unsatisfactory, with a low percentage of patients who respond and uncertain high-term significance; in addition, it is associated with sometimes severe side effects. The increasing sophistication of molecular biology has enabled viral characteristics such as viral load, genotypes, and quasi-species to be identified, which may help predict a patient's response to interferon treatment. We suggest that interferon therapy for hepatitis C virus should be restricted to referral centers in the context of controlled trials.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Malnick
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmilovitz-Weiss
mesh_terms: D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons