RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C
JF Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
JO Cleve Clin J Med
FD Cleveland Clinic
SP S8
OP S12
VO 71
IS 5 suppl 3
A1 Patel, Keyur
A1 McHutchison, John G.
YR 2004
UL http://www.ccjm.org/content/71/5_suppl_3/S8.abstract
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.