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Current therapy for hepatitis C

  • Review Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Pegylated interferon alfa in combination with ribavirin has been established as standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with sustained virologic response rates of 54–63%. The duration of therapy depends on the HCV genotype with currently 48 weeks for genotype 1 and 24 weeks for genotypes 2 and 3.

Results and discussion

The probability of sustained virologic response is very low (<1–2%) in genotype-1-infected patients without a 2-log decline of HCV RNA concentration after 12 weeks of therapy, and treatment can therefore be discontinued early.

Conclusion

Efficient treatment of the multiple side-effects of interferon-based antiviral therapy is essential in order to improve compliance, prevent dose reduction or early discontinuation and therefore enhance the probability of sustained response. Future developments of interferon-based therapy aim at the individualisation of the duration of therapy according to the kinetics of viral reduction. Furthermore, direct antiviral drugs, which are currently under investigation in phase I/II clinical trials, will fundamentally expand the treatment options of HCV infection in the next few years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Saarland University Hospital, Kirrbergerstr., Bldg. 41, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany

    Mireen Friedrich-Rust, Stefan Zeuzem & Christoph Sarrazin

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  1. Mireen Friedrich-Rust
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  2. Stefan Zeuzem
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Correspondence to Christoph Sarrazin.

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Friedrich-Rust, M., Zeuzem, S. & Sarrazin, C. Current therapy for hepatitis C. Int J Colorectal Dis 22, 341–349 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-005-0038-9

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