title: [Screening, diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis C in clinical practice].
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) is a global health problem. Worldwide, 170 million people are chronically infected. In Latin America its prevalence is estimated between 1.0 and 2.3%, and in Argentina between 1.0 and 1.5%. Treatment efficacy has considerably improved in the last 2 or 3 years. Sustained virological response (SVR) rates around 90-95% can be achieved with the new direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) currently available, with few side effects. It is necessary to increase the number of diagnosed patients, linking them to adequate management and treatment. Raising treatment rates will increase the percentage of cured patients, reducing the burden of disease. Primary care physicians' role is essential to achieve this goal. They must identify persons at risk, diagnose them and work with specialists to continue their medical care. Team working of generalists and specialists will permit that more HCV infected people can access to adequate care and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Sección Clínica Médica y Sección Hepatología, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas, Norberto Quirno CEMIC, Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: eridruejo@gmail.com.|Unidad de Hepatología y Trasplante Hepático, Hospital Universitario Austral, Pilar, Buenos Aires, Argentina.|Asociación Argentina para el Estudio de las Enfermedades del Hígado (AAEEH), Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: secretaria@aaeeh.org.ar.
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ridruejo
authors.affiliation: Asociación Argentina para el Estudio de las Enfermedades del Hígado (AAEEH), Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: secretaria@aaeeh.org.ar.|Unidad de Hepatología, Hospital Francisco J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fainboim
authors.affiliation: Asociación Argentina para el Estudio de las Enfermedades del Hígado (AAEEH), Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: secretaria@aaeeh.org.ar.|Unidad de Hepatología y Trasplante Hepático, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villamil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins
keywords: Hepatitis C; diagnosis; screening; treatment