Peginterferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C virus infection

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2011-01, Vol.17 (4), p.419-432
• Main Authors: Tsubota, Akihito, Fujise, Kiyotaka, Namiki, Yoshihisa, Tada, Norio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Disease Progression; Genotype; Hepacivirus - genetics; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis C, Chronic - pathology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - physiopathology; Humans; Interferon-alpha - therapeutic use; Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy; Liver Cirrhosis - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis - physiopathology; Polyethylene Glycols - therapeutic use; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Recombinant Proteins; Ribavirin - analogs & derivatives; Ribavirin - therapeutic use; RNA, Viral; Treatment Outcome; 丙型肝炎病毒; 修改方案; 利巴韦林; 干扰素; 治疗药物; 病毒感染; 结合疗法; 聚乙二醇化
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i4.419

Pegylated interferon α （IFNα） in combination with ribavirin is currently recommended as a standard-of-care treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus （HCV） infection. This combination therapy has drastically improved the rate of sustained virological response, specifically in difficult-to-treat patients. Recently, individualized treatment, such as response-guided therapy, is being developed based on host-, HCV- and treatment-related factors. Furthermore, modified regimens with currently available medications, novel modified IFNα and ribavirin or combinations with specifically targeted antiviral therapy for HCV agents, are currently being investigated. The purpose of this review is to address some issues and epoch-making topics in the treatment of chronic HCV infection, and to discuss more optimal and highly individualized therapeutic strategies for HCV-infected patients.