Hepatitis C Infection: Current Approach
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) associates acute and chronic liver injury, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and infects an estimated 170 to 350 million people worldwide. After the identification of the virus in 1989, substantial advances occured over the last years in the fields of diagnosis, treatm...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi
2005-12-01
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Series: | Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.floradergisi.org/getFileContent.aspx?op=REDPDF&file_name=2005-10-4-155-162.pdf |
Summary: | Hepatitis C virus (HCV) associates acute and chronic liver injury, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and infects an estimated 170 to 350 million people worldwide. After the identification of the virus in 1989, substantial advances occured over the last years in the fields of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. After recognising the role of transmission via infected blood, routine screening for anti-HCV decreased the transmission by this route significantly. Molecular methods improved detection and quantitation of the virus and thus led to easy recognition of the virus and monitoring the response to the treatment. Limited response yielded from interferon (IFN) treatment, improved after combination treatment with ribavirin and giving long acting pegylated IFN. The studies did not result in an effective vaccine. Since the current therapies can not provide a solution in nearly half of the patients, new options are needed. |
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ISSN: | 1300-932X 1300-932X |