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.
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-infectedpatients 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.
Authors: Holger Hinrichsen; Yves Benhamou; Heiner Wedemeyer; Markus Reiser; Roel E Sentjens; José L Calleja; Xavier Forns; Andreas Erhardt; Jens Crönlein; Ricardo L Chaves; Chan-Loi Yong; Gerhard Nehmiz; Gerhard G Steinmann Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2004-11 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Gary L Davis; John B Wong; John G McHutchison; Michael P Manns; Joann Harvey; Janice Albrecht Journal: Hepatology Date: 2003-09 Impact factor: 17.425
Authors: John G McHutchison; Michael Manns; Keyur Patel; Thierry Poynard; Karen L Lindsay; Christian Trepo; Jules Dienstag; William M Lee; Carmen Mak; Jean-Jacques Garaud; Janice K Albrecht Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2002-10 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Stephanos J Hadziyannis; Hoel Sette; Timothy R Morgan; Vijayan Balan; Moises Diago; Patrick Marcellin; Giuliano Ramadori; Henry Bodenheimer; David Bernstein; Mario Rizzetto; Stefan Zeuzem; Paul J Pockros; Amy Lin; Andrew M Ackrill Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2004-03-02 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: J G McHutchison; S C Gordon; E R Schiff; M L Shiffman; W M Lee; V K Rustgi; Z D Goodman; M H Ling; S Cort; J K Albrecht Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1998-11-19 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Amal Ahmed Mohamed; Tamer A Elbedewy; Magdy El-Serafy; Naglaa El-Toukhy; Wesam Ahmed; Zaniab Ali El Din Journal: World J Hepatol Date: 2015-11-18