Pharmacogenetics of hepatitis C: transition from interferon-based therapies to direct-acting antiviral agents.

ABSTRACT: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has emerged as a major viral pandemic over the past two decades, infecting 170 million individuals, which equates to approximately 3% of the world's population. The prevalence of HCV varies according to geographic region, being highest in developing countries such as Egypt. HCV has a high tendency to induce chronic progressive liver damage in the form of hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer. To date, there is no vaccine against HCV infection. Combination therapy comprising PEGylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin has been the standard of care for patients with chronic hepatitis C for more than a decade. However, many patients still do not respond to therapy or develop adverse events. Recently, direct antiviral agents such as protease inhibitors, polymerase i

SUBMITTER: Kamal SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4075960 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature