title: [Treatment of hepatitis C].
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 3 % of the global population and represents a major public health problem worldwide. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C is based on the combination of pegylated interferon alpha (PEG IFN) with ribavirin. With this treatment, sustained virological response is obtained in around 80% of patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3 and 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1. The most frequent adverse events are the flu-like syndrome and psychiatric disorders for PEG IFN, and anaemia for ribavirin; they need a careful follow-up. Determination of viral load and genotype is essential for the indication of therapy and the follow-up during treatment. Patients infected with HCV genotype 2 or 3 should be treated for 24 weeks. In patients infected with HCV genotype 1, a decrease in viral load by 2 log after 12 weeks of treatment (early virological response) is needed to take the decision to continue treatment, for a total duration of 48 weeks. A poor response to treatment is associated with host factors (age, alcohol consumption, cirrhosis) and viral factors (genotype 1, high viral load, co-infection with HBV or HIV). New therapeutic approaches should be based on the combination of PEG IFN and specific inhibitors of HCV replication to increase the rate of sustained response.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U271, 151, cours Albert Thomas, 69424 Lyon Cedex 03
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Escuret
authors.forename: Fabien
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zoulim
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005838:Genotype; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents