Management of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Although reliable figures regarding the global prevalence of HCV infection are wanting, it is likely that HCV prevalence will continue to increase. Injection drug use is the most important source of HCV transmission in the developed world, while unsafe therapeutic injection is an important source of transmission in developing nations. The majority of exposed individuals become chronically infected, of whom 50% develop chronic liver injury. Cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma can arise in those chronically infected over a mean of 20-30 years. Despite this high prevalence and morbidity, recommendations regarding who to screen by antibody testing remain disparate. Quantitative measurement of HCV RNA and HCV genotyping is useful in predicting response to antiviral therapy. Noninvasive methods of detecting liver injury, such as serologic batteries, have not been as informative or predictable as liver biopsy. The current pharmacologic standard of care for chronic HCV infection is the combination of subcutaneous peginterferon and oral ribavirin, which yields sustained virologic response in 54%-56%. Higher rates of SVR are seen in those patients who are infected with HCV genotypes 2 and 3. As intravenous drug use remains the most important source of HCV transmission in the US and Europe, education within this group is an important preventive tool.