Direct antiviral agent treatment of decompensated hepatitis C virus-induced liver cirrhosis.

Recently, direct antiviral agents (DAAs) have been increasingly used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, replacing interferon-based regimens that have severe adverse effects and low tolerability. The constant supply of new DAAs makes shorter treatment periods with enhanced safety possible. The efficacy of DAAs for treatment of compensated liver cirrhosis (LC) is not less than that for treatment of non-cirrhotic conditions. These clinical advantages have been useful in pre- and post-liver transplantation (LT) settings. Moreover, DAAs can be used to treat decompensated HCV-induced LC in elderly patients or those with severe complications otherwise having poor prognosis. Although encouraging clinical data are beginning to appear, the actual efficacy of DAAs for suppressing disease progression, allowing delisting for LT and, most importantly, improving prognosis of patients with decompensated HCV-LC remains unknown. Case-control studies to examine the short- or long-term effects of DAAs for treatment of decompensated HCV-LC are urgently need.