title: Is genotype 3 of the hepatitis C virus the new villain?
abstract: Genotype 3 of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been long considered an easy-to-treat infection, with higher cure rates (∼70%) than other viral genotypes with the standard combination of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin. However, the relative insensitivity of this genotype to most protease inhibitors and the recent unexpected data on decreased effectiveness of sofosbuvir have raised questions on how to achieve universal cure, a goal that seems reasonable for other genotypes. In addition, increasing clinical and experimental data show that HCV genotype 3 may be associated not only with severe steatosis, but also with accelerated fibrosis progression rate and increased oncogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently available data suggest that we should increase our efforts to understand the virology and pathogenesis of HCV genotype 3, aiming at better and more potent, genotype-targeted treatments.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Negro
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents