Hepatitis C treatment: where are we now?
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis C infection affects millions of people worldwide and confers significant morbidity and mortality. Effective treatment is needed to prevent disease progression and associated complications. Previous treatment options were limited to interferon and ribavirin regimens, which gave low cure rates and were associated with unpleasant side effects. The era of direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapies began with the development of the first-generation of NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PI) in 2011. They vastly improved outcomes for patients, particularly those with genotype 1 infection, the most prevalent genotype globally. Since then a multitude of DAAs have been licensed for use and outcomes for patients have improved further, with fewer side effects and cure rates approaching 100%. Recent regimens are interferon-free, and in many cases, ribavirin-free and involve a combination of DAA agents. This review summarises the treatment options currently available and discusses potential barriers that may delay the global eradication of hepatitis C.
Date Issued
2017-02-17
Date Acceptance
2016-12-19
Citation
International Journal of General Medicine, 2017, 10, pp.39-52
ISSN
1178-7074
Publisher
Dove Medical Press
Start Page
39
End Page
52
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of General Medicine
Volume
10
Copyright Statement
© 2017 Burstow et al. This work is published by Dove Medical Press Limited, and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.
The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
The full terms of the License are available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The license permits unrestricted use, distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Sponsor
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
Grant Number
097816/Z/11/ZR
097816/Z/11/A
097816/Z/11/B
105603/Z/14/Z
Subjects
directly acting antivirals
hepatitis C
hepatitis C eradication
interferon-free regimens
protease inhibitors
ribavirin-free regimens
1103 Clinical Sciences
Publication Status
Published