1. Hepatitis Slideshow Pictures
2. Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures
3. Infectious Mononucleosis Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Suresha Rajaguru, MD

Medical Author:

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP

Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.

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Medical Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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In this Article

• Hepatitis C infection (HCV, hep C) facts
• What is hepatitis C infection?
• What is the nature (biology) of the hepatitis C virus?
• How does liver damage occur in hepatitis C infection?
• How is hepatitis C virus spread, is it contagious, and how can transmission be prevented?
• What are the symptoms of hepatitis C infection?
• What conditions outside the liver are associated with hepatitis C infection?
• What is the usual progression of chronic hepatitis C infection?
• Who is at high risk and should be tested for hepatitis C infection?
• What are the diagnostic tests for hepatitis C virus and how are they used to diagnose hepatitis C infection?
• What is the role of a liver biopsy in the management of chronic hepatitis C infection?
• What is the treatment for hepatitis C infection?
• Who should receive antiviral therapy for hepatitis C infection?
• What are the different patterns of response to antiviral treatment?
• What are the goals of therapy for hepatitis C infection?
• What are the therapy options for previously untreated patients with chronic hepatitis C infection?
• How are relapses and nonresponders treated?
• Should individuals with acute hepatitis C infection be treated?
• What are the side effects of treatment for hepatitis C infection?
• What about liver transplantation for hepatitis C infection?
• What is the current research and what is in the future for hepatitis C infection?
• Patient Comments: Hepatitis C - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Hepatitis C - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Hepatitis C - Treatment
• Find a local Gastroenterologist in your town
• Hepatitis C Index

The ultimate goals of antiviral therapy are to eliminate HCV, prevent transmission, improve or normalize the liver tests and histology (microscopic appearance), prevent progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer, prolong survival, and improve the quality of life.

As already stated, only a sustained virologic response provides the possibility of achieving all of these goals since most patients who have a sustained response will remain in remission indefinitely. The rest of the patients (non-responders, partial responders and relapsers) may show improvement in blood tests with or without relief of symptoms.

For previously untreated patients who are candidates for therapy, the optimal approach is combined treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin (Rebetol, Copegus). Patients who have reasons not to receive ribavirin may be treated solely with pegylated interferon. Older preparations (nonpegylated forms) of interferon are less effective and less commonly used.

Pegylated interferon: Interferons are a family of naturally occurring proteins that are produced by the body to fight viral infections. To produce pegylated interferon, the interferon is processed by attaching ethylene glycol to it. This process is called pegylation and it slows the elimination of interferon from the body so that its effects are more prolonged. There are currently two types of pegylated interferon: pegylated interferon alpha 2b (Peg-Intron A) and pegylated interferon alpha 2a (Pegasys). Both pegylated interferon alpha 2b and 2a; are given as a subcutaneous injection once a week.

Optimally, pegylated interferon therapy should be combined with ribavirin. In persons who cannot take ribavirin, monotherapy with pegylated interferon may be used. Monotherapy has been shown to achieve sustained virologic response rates of 23% to 25% in patients.

Ribavirin: The antiviral agent, ribavirin (Rebetol, Copegus), is a nucleoside analogue that is taken by mouth. Nucleoside analogues are man-made molecules that closely resemble the biochemical units that make up genetic material (RNA and DNA). Ribavirin works by fooling the virus into using it instead of the normal building blocks, thereby slowing viral reproduction. Ribavirin has not worked well when used alone for hepatitis C.

Combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin: Combined therapy with both pegylated interferon and ribavirin produces a sustained virologic response in 28% to 50% of patients with genotype 1. Genotype 1 is the most common genotype in the U.S., but also the most resistant to treatment. For unknown reasons, response rates are lower in African American persons and higher in Caucasians. In patients with genotype 2, sustained response rates are higher (76% to 82%).

• The duration of therapy depends on the genotype of the HCV.
• Hence the recommended duration of treatment for HCV genotype 2 and 3 is 24 weeks and for genotype 1 is 48 weeks.
• Sustained virologic response usually is accompanied by a return to normal serum ALT levels and improvement in inflammation within the liver.

Combination therapy is associated with more side effects than therapy with single drugs (see below). In research studies, up to 20% of patients receiving combination therapy required a reduction in the doses or discontinuation of therapy because of the side effects. Nevertheless, combination therapy represents significant progress in the treatment of chronic HCV.

Some patients treated successfully with combination therapy still have detectable virus after 12 weeks of treatment but go on to have a sustained response. Therefore, patients on combination therapy should have hepatitis C virus RNA measured at 24 weeks of therapy. In those who are still positive for the virus at that time, consideration is given to stopping treatment, since the chance of sustained response is small.

Protease inhibitors: A new class of medications called protease inhibitors has been approved for the treatment of genotype 1HVC. These medications are telaprevir (Incivek) and boceprevir (Victrelis), and they are given along with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Moreover, adding a protease inhibitor can shorten the overall duration of treatment for some patients.