title: Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the literature on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE search (1986-December 1999) using key words such as HCV, hepatitis, non-A and non-B hepatitis, as well as terms regarding treatment during that time period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV infection was initially treated with interferon monotherapy, but only a minority of patients responded to long-term therapy. A higher rate of response in both interferon-naïve patients and interferon-relapsers has been achieved by using the combination of interferon and ribavarin. Other treatment regimens including high-dose interferon protocols, ursodeoxycholic acid, amantadine, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs have been less promising. Many alternative therapies are being investigated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV infection is a major public health problem. It is now possible to achieve a cure in nearly 50% of the patients with this infection. Many additional therapies are being evaluated in order to achieve a higher cure rate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine C, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot Israel. stevash@trendline.co.il
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Malnick
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beergabel
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lurie
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018962:Phlebotomy; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons