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Predictors of response to chronic hepatitis C treatment

    Ezequiel Ridruejo

    Hepatology Section, Department of Medicine, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas Norberto Quirno “CEMIC”, Argentina.

    Hepatology & Liver Transplant Unit. Hospital Universitario Austral, Argentina

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/fvl.12.104

    Chronic hepatitis C is a growing health problem worldwide that has attracted increased attention in recent years. Treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin combination had previously been the standard of care. In 2011, a new treatment with protease inhibitors, telaprevir and boceprevir was approved, and a new standard of care was defined. Previous predictors of response have been redefined, and while IL28B, fibrosis stage and hepatitis C virus viral load testing continue to have their value, viral kinetics during treatment defining viral response have emerged as the strongest predictor for achieving sustained virologic response with the new treatment. New therapies are expected in the near future, and current treatment predictors of response may soon change.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: ▪ of interest ▪▪ of considerable interest

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