title: Management of newly diagnosed hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: All patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection are potential candidates for antiviral therapy. Careful patient selection can optimize the response to therapy and enhance safety. Pegylated forms of interferon, when combined with ribavirin, can "cure" the majority of patients undergoing therapy, and these agents have become the new standard of care for chronic hepatitis C. Careful and timely management of side effects, which are experienced by all patients, can improve adherence to antiviral therapy and further improve response rates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zacks
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fried
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000075202:Contraindications; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018579:Patient Selection; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin