Behandeling van hepatitis C

- The recent advances in the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C have significantly lowered the threshold for offering such therapy to patients.

- Sustained virological response rates of 42-46 are achieved after 48 weeks of combination therapy with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 infection.

- In patients with a genotype 2 or 3 infection, 24 weeks of combination therapy leads to a sustained response rate of almost 80.

- The U.S. National Institutes of Health consensus states that every patient with hepatitis C should be considered for antiviral therapy.

- Identification of the patients, selection for therapy, the provision of good information, guidance of the patient during therapy and a successful management of side effects lead to better treatment compliance and are of paramount importance in obtaining maximal therapeutic efficacy.

- Supportive guidance during substance abuse withdrawal programmes and the adequate use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors should be part of these measures.