Interní Med. 2010; 12(6): 339-342

Hepatitis C, diagnosis, treatment, prevention

MUDr.Adam Vitouš

Infekční oddělení, Krajská nemocnice Liberec

III. klinika infekčních a tropických nemocí, 1. LF UK Praha

Chronic hepatitis C infection, affecting 3 % of the world’s population, is one of the major therapeutic and economic health burdens.

Implementation of molecular genetic methods into clinical practice has improved diagnostic possibilities. Following the introduction

of interferon alfa monotherapy at the end of the 20th century and, more recently, the current standard treatment protocol of pegylated

interferon alfa plus ribavirin, individualized by patient’s viral load and genotype, the number of infected patients achieving sustained

antiviral response has improved. However, a significant number of infected people are either not responding to the treatment or the

treatment is not possible. Therefore, relatively low response rates, intolerability of side effects and nonexistent HCV vaccine, illustrate

the situation in which there is a rising number of patients with severe or terminal liver disease.

Keywords: hepatitis C, diagnosis, treatment, interferon, ribavirin

Published: July 1, 2010  Show citation