Current therapy for hepatitis C.
BACKGROUND
Pegylated interferon alfa in combination with ribavirin has been established as standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with sustained virologic response rates of 54-63%. The duration of therapy depends on the HCV genotype with currently 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3.


CONCLUSIONS
The probability of sustained virologic response is very low (<1-2%) in genotype-1-infected patients without a 2-log decline of HCV RNA concentration after 12 weeks of therapy, and treatment can therefore be discontinued early.


CONCLUSIONS
Efficient treatment of the multiple side-effects of interferon-based antiviral therapy is essential in order to improve compliance, prevent dose reduction or early discontinuation and therefore enhance the probability of sustained response. Future developments of interferon-based therapy aim at the individualisation of the duration of therapy according to the kinetics of viral reduction. Furthermore, direct antiviral drugs, which are currently under investigation in phase I/II clinical trials, will fundamentally expand the treatment options of HCV infection in the next few years.
Friedrich-Rust
Mireen
M
Department of Internal Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrbergerstr., Bldg. 41, 66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany.
Zeuzem
Stefan
S
Sarrazin
Christoph
C
D000465:Algorithms; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D007370:Interferon Type I; D012254:Ribavirin