The changing face of hepatitis C in the new era of direct-acting antivirals.

Abstract

The approval of the first protease inhibitors as treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is rapidly transforming the way patients with chronic hepatitis C are managed. Treatment regimens are moving to combinations given for shortened periods, excluding poorly tolerated subcutaneous interferon, and providing rates of cure exceeding 75%. The recognition of HCV infection as a systemic disease, not limited to producing liver damage, in which extrahepatic complications play a major role as the cause of morbidity and mortality, is prompting the treatment of a growing number of HCV-infected individuals. However, new challenges are emerging, including the need to diagnose a substantial proportion of asymptomatic carriers, the risk of potentially harmful drug-drug interactions and the high cost of medications. The future will probably see a progressive marginalization of residual HCV populations, with increasing over-representation of illegal immigrants, alcohol abusers, intravenous drug users and the mentally disabled.

• Authors: Vincent Soriano, Pablo Labarga, Jose V Fernández-Montero, Jose M Benito, Eva Poveda, Norma Rallon, Clara Sánchez, Eugenia Vispo, Pablo Barreiro
• Journal: Antiviral research (Antiviral Res) Vol. 97 Issue 1 Pg. 36-40 (Jan 2013) ISSN: 1872-9096 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23147192 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Oligopeptides
• telaprevir
• N-(3-amino-1-(cyclobutylmethyl)-2,3-dioxopropyl)-3-(2-((((1,1-dimethylethyl)amino)carbonyl)amino)-3,3-dimethyl-1-oxobutyl)-6,6-dimethyl-3-azabicyclo(3.1.0)hexan-2-carboxamide
• Proline

Topics

• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, economics)
• Asymptomatic Diseases
• Carrier State (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Health Services Accessibility
• Hepatitis C, Chronic (diagnosis, drug therapy)
• Humans
• Oligopeptides (administration & dosage, economics)
• Proline (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, economics)
• Treatment Outcome