PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Patel, Keyur AU - McHutchison, John G. TI - Initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C DP - 2004 May 01 TA - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine PG - S8--S12 VI - 71 IP - 5 suppl 3 4099 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/5_suppl_3/S8.short 4100 - http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/5_suppl_3/S8.full SO - Cleve Clin J Med2004 May 01; 71 AB - The main treatment goal in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the prevention of progressive hepatic fibrosis by eradicating serum and intrahepatic virus. The current standard of care in previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C is combination therapy with pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin. The duration of therapy and the dose of ribavirin should be determined according to the patient’s HCV genotype. Adherence to the full dose of therapy for the prescribed treatment duration enhances the likelihood of sustained viro-logic response. Early virologic response is a good predictor of eventual sustained response for patients with HCV genotype 1 infection. Despite important gains in treating chronic hepatitis C, many treatment challenges remain.