Treatment choices for people infected with HCV.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of liver disease in the world. It is a common cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as the most common reason for liver transplantation. Thus, appropriate therapeutic approaches have a strong clinical impact on the morbidity and mortality of HCV-infected patients. In this review we outline the most recent results in the therapy of HCV chronic hepatitis. Patients with the best prognostic factors treated with combination therapy (peginterferon and ribavirin) obtained a sustained response rate of 80-95%. We also provide some hints on the most promising results of the newest therapeutic options, which include molecules that inhibit specific enzymes, such as inhibitors of serine proteases, which are now in preclinical or early phase human trials. Host factors influencing the rate of response are also outlined.
Fargion
Silvia
S
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Ospedale Maggiore IRCCS, Università di Milano, Via F Sforza 35, 20122 Milan, Italy. silvia.fargion@unimi.it
Fracanzani
Anna Ludovica
AL
Valenti
Luca
L
D000208:Acute Disease; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000503:physiopathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000622:Aminolevulinic Acid