title: [Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection: current status and perspectives].
abstract: Current treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C consists of pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The application of viral kinetics is currently allowing treatment to be optimized by varying the length of treatment to 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3 and 48 weeks for the remaining genotypes. Thus, patients with genotype 1, with a low viral load, and rapid virological response (RVR) obtain a high RVS with 24 weeks' treatment. In contrast, slow responders may benefit from 72 weeks' treatment. Patients with genotypes 2 and 3 can also benefit from regimens designed according to viral kinetics. Higher doses and more prolonged periods have been tested in non-responders to current treatment, although for many, the only option is to wait for a new generation of drugs. Maintenance therapy with low-dose interferon to prevent cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma is currently being evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Sección Hepatología, Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, España. mdiagomeditex.es
authors.forename: Moisés
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diago
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D019562:Viral Load; D014766:Viremia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a