A review of current anti-HCV treatment regimens and possible future strategies.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a serious health problem worldwide. The current standard treatment of HCV infection is pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin, but this is clearly not sufficiently effective and tolerable.


OBJECTIVE
To review current HCV treatment strategies and future options.


METHODS
Review of major clinical trials or observational studies when no trial is available.


CONCLUSIONS
Rates of sustained virologic response are widely variable, approximately 40-80%, depending on genotype, and even lower when HIV coinfection occurs. New agents, like small molecules that specifically target the HCV life cycle, may improve response rates; but safety is a concern.
Neukam
Karin
K
Hospital Universitario de Valme, Unidad Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas, 41014 Seville, Spain.
Macías
Juan
J
Mira
José A
JA
Pineda
Juan A
JA
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005838:Genotype; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases