Abstract
Worldwide, chronic viral hepatitis C is a significant infectious disease in which liver inflammation may progress to cirrhosis with multiple complications (liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, bleeding); it represents one of the most prominent indications for liver transplantation throughout the world. Thanks to crucial developments in chronic viral hepatitis C treatment, more than 90% patients can be cured nowadays with minimal side effects compared to previously used, interferon-based therapy.
The new treatment is much better tolerated and can be terminated earlier. The type and duration of therapy currently depends on the following key factors: liver fibrosis stage (or the presence of cirrhosis), viral genotype and, in some cases, previous unsuccessful treatment.
Another advantage available nowadays consists of the possibility to detect the stage of liver fibrosis in a non-invasive way (serologically or elastographically), with no need to perform liver biopsy. Currently, the main paradigm of chronic viral hepatitis C treatment is thus based on meticulous screening of groups at risk of this disease and active search for infected patients.