Professional paper

Chronic hepatitis C – a journey to curable disease

Iva Lisičar ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti
Neven Papić ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti
Adriana Vince ; Klinika za infektivne bolesti

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus was discovered at the end of the 1980s. The first treatment attempts were with interferon (IFN)-α whose use, although satisfying in terms of rates of patients with sustained virologic response rate (SVR), was limited by numerous side effects. These rates were further improved by adjusting the dose and pegylation. In the mid-1990s, ribavirin was added to IFN-α, achieving even better results in the treatment of patients with hepatitis C, and the combination represented the standard of treatment since 1999. Significant progress has been made after the virus life cycle was unraveled, enabling the development of direct-acting antivirals (DAA), the first of which had promising results, albeit with numerous side effects. More than few DAA developed in the following years, and today they are divided into four groups: viral protease inhibitors, nucleotide analogues, non-nucleoside analogues and NS5A inhibitors. Since 2014, the PEGIFN-free era is finally beginning, with SVR possible with all-oral therapy after 12 or 24 weeks. According to some research, to achieve 90% reduction in HCV prevalence in Croatia, we should treat 450 to 500 patients per year, and of course intensify public health campaigns with the aim of early detection of infected patients. The main problem still remain financial resources.

Keywords

hepatitis C virus; chronic infection; direct-acting antivirals

Hrčak ID:

204599

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/204599

Publication date:

30.7.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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