Via practica 1/2017

New treatment options in chronic hepatitis C

In the last years, there have been significant advances in treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The development of several new direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) leads to a change in treatment strategy with transition to interferon-free regimens. Using a combination of several DAAs without interferon entails an increase in the effectiveness of treatment, simple application, shortening of treatment duration up to 12 weeks, good tolerance and safety for the patient. Achievement of sustained virological response is possible in 95 – 100 % patients, including cirrhotic patients or those in whom interferon therapy was contraindicated. For the first time in this context we begin to see the possibility of complete hepatitis C eradication.

Keywords: chronic hepatitis C, treatment, DAAs, interferon-free regimens, SVR