title: Antiviral Therapy in Elderly Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
abstract: The emergence of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents has revolutionized the treatment schema for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. From cure rates to tolerability, DAA agents have shown outstanding profiles compared with the prior therapy of pegylated interferon with ribavirin. However, the efficacy and safety profiles of DAA therapy in older patients, particularly the elderly, have been unclear, and patients in the 1945 to 1965 birth cohort constitute the largest proportion of the HCV population in the United States. Treating elderly patients with pegylated interferon and ribavirin has been challenging due to the frequent presence of multiple comorbidities in the elderly and high discontinuation rates caused by adverse events. Now, as more DAA agents have become widely studied and approved, subgroup analyses for the elderly population are being elucidated. Analysis of the current literature shows that these agents have been effective, well tolerated, and safe in the elderly population. This article highlights the efficacy and safety differences in interferon-based therapy and interferon-free regimens for elderly patients with HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Dr Rheem is a resident in the Department of Medicine at Harbor-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center in Torrance, California. Dr Sundaram is an assistant director in the Division of Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr Saab is a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rheem
authors.affiliation: Dr Rheem is a resident in the Department of Medicine at Harbor-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center in Torrance, California. Dr Sundaram is an assistant director in the Division of Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr Saab is a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.affiliation: Dr Rheem is a resident in the Department of Medicine at Harbor-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center in Torrance, California. Dr Sundaram is an assistant director in the Division of Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. Dr Saab is a professor in the Department of Medicine and the Department of Surgery at the University of California at Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Sammy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saab
keywords: Hepatitis C virus; direct-acting antiviral agents; elderly; epidemiology; sustained viral response