Hepatitis - Goals of Therapy

Goals of Therapy

1. Primary
2. Viral eradication
3. Secondary
4. Slow disease progression
5. Improve underlying histology
6. Prevent the development of hepatocellular carcinoma
7. Improve quality of life after therapy

Three discrete regimens are licensed in the United States for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. These regimens include 3 approved interferons (IFN) -- IFN-alfa-2a, IFN alfa-2b, IFN-alfa con (consensus)-1 -- and combination IFN-alfa-2b plus ribavirin

Treatment Plan

The primary aim of therapy in the patient with hepatitis C is to achieve a sustained virologic response, which is defined as undetectable HCV RNA 6 months after termination of antiviral therapy. Secondary goals of antiviral therapy include improvement in histology and quality of life, and the prevention of HCC.

Patients with persistently abnormal liver enzymes, detectable HCV RNA, and an abnormal liver biopsy are candidates for antiviral therapy.