Premium
Viral kinetics in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
LaydenAlmer Jennifer E.,
Cotler Scott J.,
Layden Thomas J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2006.00715.x
Subject(s) - ribavirin , medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , pegylated interferon , cirrhosis , viral load , dosing , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis c , viral hepatitis , gastroenterology , fibrosis , immunology , virology , virus
Summary. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis, and chronic infection can frequently progress to cirrhosis, end‐stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment with pegylated interferons (INFs) plus ribavirin has been shown to be more effective than pegylated INFs alone or standard INFs with or without ribavirin. The early response of HCV to treatment with peg‐INF has been used to predict treatment outcomes in infected patients, emphasizing the importance of viral kinetics and genotyping in their treatment. Mathematic modelling of viral dynamics has shown the importance of optimal doses of drug, with early virologic response at week 12 predictive of sustained virologic response. Maintaining INF concentration above a therapeutically effective level is necessary to prevent viral rebound and subsequent treatment failure. Once‐weekly dosing with peg‐INF‐ α 2a, which has a longer half‐life than other forms of INF, plus daily dosing with ribavirin, has been shown to be effective in reducing viral load.