Current treatment of hepatitis C infection: Treatment of hepatitis C

Salih Emre

doi:10.5281/zenodo.11114152

Authors

Salih Emre Sakarya Training and Research Hospital Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Sakarya, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4216-5287

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11114152

Keywords:

Antiviral agents, direct-acting antivirals, hepatitis C, treatment

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a RNA virus causing HCV infection. HCV infection is an important cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. Interferons were the first agents used to treat HCV infection. Low success rates and serious side effects limited the use of interferons. The discovery of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), stemming from a deep understanding of the virus's structure, life cycle, and viral proteins, has led to significant advancements in treatment. Currently, all patients infected with HCV can be treated with a high success rate. Thanks to pangenotypic treatments, it is not necessary to determine the genotype of the virus before treatment. DAAs are safer in terms of side effects. Cirrhosis status, comorbidities, and drug-drug interactions should be considered when planning treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) aims to eliminate hepatitis C infection by 2030. In order to achieve this elimination, patients need to be diagnosed and receive effective treatment. DAAs are effective tools to achieve this aim. In this review, the microbiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of HCV infection are presented. Treatment is described in detail from past to present.

References

Li HC, Lo SY. Hepatitis C virus: Virology, diagnosis and treatment. World J Hepatol. 2015;7:1377-89.

Laugi H. Discovery of Hepatitis C Virus: 2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol. 2020;10:105-8.

Marcotrigiano J, Catanese MT. The Structure of HCV. Hepatitis C Virus I: Cellular and Molecular Virology. 2016:31-64

Ergünay K, Abacioglu H. Hepatit C Virusunun Genomik Varyasyonları ve Kliniğe Etkileri. (Turkish) Mikrobiyoloji Bülteni. 2015;49:625-35.

Weiser BM, Tellinghuisen TL. Structural biology of the hepatitis C virus proteins. Drug Discov Today Technol. 2012;9:e175-226.

Barut HŞ, Günal Ö, Dünyada ve ülkemizde hepatit C epidemiyolojisi. (Turkish) Klimik Dergisi. 2009;22:38-43

Messina JP, Humphreys I, Flaxman A, Brown A, Cooke GS, Pybus OG, et al. Global distribution and prevalence of hepatitis C virus genotypes. Hepatology. 2015;61:77-87.

Di Marco L, La Mantia C, Di Marco V. Hepatitis C: Standard of Treatment and What to Do for Global Elimination. Viruses. 2022;14:505.

Roudot-Thoraval F. Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2021;45:101596.

World Health Organization. Hepatitis C. July 2022. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hepatitis-c

Polaris Observatory HCV Collaborators. Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015: a modelling study. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;2:161-76.

Tozun N, Ozdogan O, Cakaloglu Y, Idilman R, Karasu Z, Akarca U, et al. Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections and risk factors in Turkey: a fieldwork TURHEP study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21:1020-6.

WHO. Combating Hepatitis B and C to Reach Elimination by 2030; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2016.

Soza A, Riquelme A, Arrese M. Routes of transmission of hepatitis C virus. Ann Hepatol. 2010;9 Suppl:33.

Shaffer M, Ahuja D. Hepatitis C: Screening changes, treatment advances. J Fam Pract. 2017;66:136-44.

Bhattacharya D, Aronsohn A, Price J, Lo Re V; AASLD-IDSA HCV Guidance Panel. Hepatitis C Guidance 2023 Update: AASLD-IDSA Recommendations for Testing, Managing, and Treating Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Clin Infect Dis. 2023; ciad319.

Loomba R, Rivera MM, McBurney R, Park Y, Haynes-Williams V, Rehermann B, et al. The natural history of acute hepatitis C: clinical presentation, laboratory findings and treatment outcomes. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2011;33:559-65.

Manns MP, Buti M, Gane E, Pawlotsky JM, Razavi H, Terrault N, et al. Hepatitis C virus infection. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17006.

Kuna L, Jakab J, Smolic R, Wu GY, Smolic M. HCV Extrahepatic Manifestations. J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2019;7:172-82.

Gupta E, Bajpai M, Choudhary A. Hepatitis C virus: Screening, diagnosis, and interpretation of laboratory assays. Asian J Transfus Sci. 2014;8:19-25

Glynn SA, Wright DJ, Kleinman SH, Hirschkorn D, Tu Y, Heldebrant C, et al. Dynamics of viremia in early hepatitis C virus infection. Transfusion. 2005;45:994-1002.

Kish T, Aziz A, Sorio M. Hepatitis C in a New Era: A Review of Current Therapies. P T. 2017;42:316-29.

Davis GL, Balart LA, Schiff ER, Lindsay K, Bodenheimer HC Jr, Perrillo RP, et al. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with recombinant interferon alfa. A multicenter randomized, controlled trial. N Engl J Med. 1989;321:1501-6.

Heim MH. 25 years of interferon-based treatment of chronic hepatitis C: an epoch coming to an end. Nat Rev Immunol. 2013;13:535-42.

Dore GJ, Martinello M, Alavi M, Grebely J. Global elimination of hepatitis C virus by 2030: why not? Nat Med. 2020;26:157-60.

Cheinquer H. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the near future. Ann Hepatol. 2013;12:854-59.

Scott LJ. Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir: A Review in Chronic Hepatitis C. Drugs. 2018;78:245-56.

El-Sayed M, Elserafy M, El Raziky M, Elakel W, Saad Y, Fayad T, et al. Efficacy and safety ofombitasvir/paritaprevir/ritonavir-based therapy in HCV patients with chronic kidney disease. Arab J Gastroenterol. 2023;24:29-33.

Hernández-Conde M, Fernández I, Perelló C, Gallego A, Bonacci M, Pascasio JM, et al. Effectiveness and safety of elbasvir/grazoprevir therapy in patients with chronic HCV infection: Results from the Spanish HEPA-C real-world cohort. J Viral Hepat. 2019;26:55-64.

Damar Çakırca T, Yamazhan T, Yüksekkaya E, Akgül F, Kurtaran B, Karaşahin Ö, et al. Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir/Voxilaprevir Experience in Treatment-Naive Chronic Hepatitis C Patients: Preliminary Findings of Real World Data. Viral Hepat J. 2023;29:58-63.

Mir F, Kahveci AS, Ibdah JA, Tahan V. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir regimen promises an effective pan-genotypic hepatitis C virus cure. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2017;11:497-502.

Yaras S, Demir M, Barutcu S, Yildirim AE, Gurel S, Ucbilek E, et al. The efficacy and tolerability of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir treatment in a real-world chronic hepatitis C patients cohort. Hepatol Forum. 2023;4:92-6.

European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL recommendations on treatment of hepatitis C: Final update of the series [published correction appears in J Hepatol. 2023;78:452]. J Hepatol. 2020;73:1170-218.

Kushner T, Terrault NA. Hepatitis C in Pregnancy: A Unique Opportunity to Improve the Hepatitis C Cascade of Care. Hepatol Commun. 2018;3:20-8.

Chappell CA, Scarsi KK, Kirby BJ, Suri V, Gaggar A, Bogen DL, et al. Ledipasvir plus sofosbuvir in pregnant women with hepatitis C virus infection: a phase 1 pharmacokinetic study. Lancet Microbe.2020;1:e200-e208.

Fabrizi F, Tripodi F, Cerutti R, Nardelli L, Alfieri CM, Donato MF, et al. Recent Information on Pan-Genotypic Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents for HCV in Chronic Kidney Disease. Viruses. 2022;14:2570.

Terrault NA. Care of Patients Following Cure of Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2018;14:629-34.

Wang C, Ji D, Chen J, Shao Q, Li B, Liu J, et al. Hepatitis due to Reactivation of Hepatitis B Virus in Endemic Areas Among Patients With Hepatitis C Treated With Direct-acting Antiviral Agents. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017;15:132-6.