Author: Butt, Adeel A

Source: Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy, Volume 3, Number 2, April 2005 , pp. 241-249(9)

Publisher: Expert Reviews

Abstract:

Hepatitis C virus infects an estimated 170 million people worldwide. It is a major cause of liver cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. It is also a leading cause of liver transplant in the USA. The virus is primarily transmitted parenterally, but there is significant mother-to-child transmission. Partly due to the virus's genetic diversity, it evades the host immune response and it has been difficult to identify candidate vaccines. However, significant advances have been made in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. Currently, the combination of pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin is the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection, and leads to long-term eradication of the virus in approximately 54% of people. Treatment response is dependent on the infecting genotype, with 76 to 80% of those with genotypes 2 and 3, but only approximately 40% with genotype 1 or 4 achieving a sustained virologic response. Since treatment is expensive and associated with significant adverse effects, more effective strategies for the prevention of transmission are needed, especially in resource-limited countries, where the burden of disease is the highest.

Keywords: epidemiology; hepatitis C virus; hepatitis C virus transmission; hepatitis C virus treatment; hepatitus c; HIV

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1586/14787210.3.2.241

Affiliations: 1: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3601 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3A, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.., Fax: +1 412 648 6399, Email: butta@msx.dept-med.pitt.edu

Publication date: 2005-04-01

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• Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy provides expert reviews on therapeutics and diagnostics in the treatment of infectious disease. Coverage includes antibiotics, drug resistance, drug therapy, infectious disease medicine, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal and antiviral approaches, and diagnostic tests.
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