Treatment of acute hepatitis C: the success of monotherapy with (pegylated) interferon alpha.
Early control in the acute phase of hepatitis C infection is an attractive therapeutic goal in order to shorten disease duration and infectivity, to prevent chronicity and progression to advanced liver disease and to avoid eventual therapeutic non-response in the later stages of chronic hepatitis C. Over the past decade, different interferon-based treatment options have been developed, which lead to sustained virological response rates of up to 98%. The present article summarizes the successful invention of immediate and delayed strategies in acute hepatitis C monoinfection, critically discusses potential limitations and illustrates the therapeutic challenges of the near future.
Wiegand
Johannes
J
Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Clinic and Polyclinic II, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany. johannes.wiegand@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Deterding
Katja
K
Cornberg
Markus
M
Wedemeyer
Heiner
H
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b