title: Hepatitis C virus infection and immunomodulatory therapies.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a large-scale and significant health concern. The combination of subcutaneously administered pegylated interferon and oral ribavirin is the FDA-approved regimen for the treatment of chronic HCV infection. Combination therapy may result in a sustained virologic response leading to HCV eradication, with a reduction in risk for cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the combination of PEG-IFN and ribavirin does not universally result in cure in all patients who undergo treatment. In this article, the authors discuss immunomodulatory therapies and clinical trials in the treatment of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Forde
authors.forename: K Rajender
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000819:agonists; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013844:Thiazoles; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines; C506101:hepatitis C immune globulin, human; D012254:Ribavirin; D007372:Interferons; C041747:nitazoxanide