title: Optimal management of patients with chronic hepatitis C and comorbidities.
abstract: Although HCV infection mainly induces liver injury, chronic disease is systemic. Moreover, host and viral factors, as well as comorbidities, may influence the chance of achieving a sustained virological response or disease outcome. Although there are sufficient data on the use of peg-interferon and ribavirin in patients with comorbidities, there is very little data on first generation protease inhibitors, which include significant drug-drug interactions and have therefore been administered with caution in these patients. The availability of new, more effective direct acting antivirals should significantly change this scenario. All these issues are discussed in this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, A.O. Fatebenefratelli e Oftalmico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boccaccio
authors.forename: Savino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruno
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors
keywords: cost/effectiveness; direct acting antivirals; hepatitis C virus; modifiable; non-modifiable comorbidities; sustained viral response