title: HCV Treatments and Their Integration Into Rheumatology.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with distinct rheumatic syndromes including arthritis, sialadenitis, and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CV). The therapy of these HCV-associated syndromes includes antiviral therapy with or without the addition of immunosuppressives while clinical response is mainly seen in patients who clear the virus after antiviral therapy. Despite significant therapeutic advances, existing antiviral therapies with interferon-a (IFNa)-based schemes achieve viral eradication only in approximately half the patients. Recently, oral antivirals that target specific HCV proteins referred as direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have been developed and approved. Short-term (12-24 weeks) combination schemes with or without IFN ("IFN-free" regimens) including these inhibitors clear the virus in more than 90 % of treated patients. Here, we review current therapeutic options in HCV-associated rheumatic syndromes and the potential role of the newly available antivirals in an integrated therapeutic approach.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, 2nd Department of Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens University, 114 Vass. Sophias Ave., 115 27, Athens, Greece, dvassilop@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vassilopoulos
authors.forename: Leonard H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Calabrese
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D003449:Cryoglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012793:Sialadenitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D012254:Ribavirin