Treatment of hepatitis C infection.
HCV infection is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease worldwide,and it results in cirrhosis, liver failure, and HCC. As a result, hepatitis C cirrhosis has become the principal indication for liver transplantation. Ironically,HCV infection can be cured with available antiviral therapies, but only a minority of infected persons has ever been treated. The current standard of therapy isa combination of PEG-IFNalpha and ribavirin, which produces high rates of SVRs(absence of detectable HCV RNA at least 24 weeks after cessation of therapy):42% to 56% in genotype 1 and 75% to 84% in genotypes 2 and 3. Recent reports indicate that the less frequent genotypes 4, 5, and 6 also are responsive to combination therapy. Recommendations for treatment of conventional and special patient populations were reviewed in detail. Newer therapeutics that are entering clinical trials provide hope that SVRs may be possible in patients who are difficult to treat and in nonresponders to current therapy.
Stribling
Rise
R
Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, 1709 Dryden, Suite 1500, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Sussman
Norman
N
Vierling
John M
JM
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000075202:Contraindications; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a