The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection has been revolutionized by the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) agents (boceprevir and telaprevir) in combination with peginterferon and ribavirin. Although improved antiviral efficacy and shorter durations of therapy are anticipated, there are also potentially severe drug-drug interactions involving protease inh...

Hepatitis C therapy in the era of the newer direct-acting antiviral agents has radically changed our treatment schemes by achieving very high rates of sustained virological response. However, treatment with direct antiviral agents fails in a subgroup of patients. This group of so-called difficult-to-treat individuals is the subject of this paper, which reviews the causes of virological failure,...

Hepatitis C positive patients were traditionally not considered suitable donor candidates in Malaysia. This perception shifted with the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agent (DAA), which demonstrated excellent sustained virologic response (SVR) post treatment. Furthermore, it has been established that potential risk death on wait list outweighs viral transmission.

AIM To reduce hepatic and extrahepatic complications of chronic hepatitis C in kidney transplant recipients. METHODS We conducted a systematic review of kidney only transplant in patients with hepatitis C and advanced fibrosis. RESULTS The 5 year patient survival of kidney transplant recipients with and without hepatitis C cirrhosis ranged from 31% to 90% and 85% to 92%, respectively. Hepat...

Treatment of hepatitis C virus has traditionally been difficult because of low rates of treatment success and high rates of treatment discontinuation due to side effects. Current standard therapy consists of pegylated interferon α and ribavirin, both of which have nonspecific and largely unknown mechanisms of action. New therapies are in development that act directly on the hepatitis C virus at...

Patients with cirrhosis who are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the most in need of antiviral treatment. Virologic cure improves fibrosis and quality of life while reducing liver-related morbidity and mortality. In mid-2011, the addition of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs)-the protease inhibitors boceprevir (Victrelis, Merck) and telaprevir (Incivek, Vertex)-to pegylated interfer...