title: Hepatitis C treatment: shorter and better?
abstract: Herein, we present a synthesis of two publications that evaluate an abbreviated therapeutic approach to treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Based on those publications, we discuss the use of the early virologic response (EVR) as a tool for the optimized management of patients under treatment, as well as reviewing concepts of HCV viral kinetics. The fourth-week EVR, characterized by HCV RNA dropping to undetectable levels, allows individuals infected with HCV genotype 1 and presenting low baseline viral loads to be treated with the combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 24 weeks, whereas individuals infected with HCV genotypes 2 or 3 can be treated for only 12 weeks. Therefore, by adopting abbreviated treatment regimens optimized through early prediction of sustained viral response, it is possible to increase the number of patients treated without incurring the excess costs related to high rates of treatment failure and management of adverse outcomes, as well as avoiding the risks of unnecessarily exposing patients to drugs that have the potential to be highly toxic.
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Hepatitis Clinic, Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Hospital das Clínicas, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. evaldostanislau@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Evaldo Stanislau Affonso de
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Courtouké
authors.forename: Antonio Alci
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Barone
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a