[The treatment of hepatitis C]

The recent advances in the antiviral therapy of hepatitis C have significantly lowered the threshold for offering such therapy to patients. Sustained virological response rates of 42-46% are achieved after 48 weeks of combination therapy with peginterferon alpha and ribavirin in patients with genotype 1 infection. In patients with a genotype 2 or 3 infection, 24 weeks of combination therapy leads to a sustained response rate of almost 80%. The U.S. National Institutes of Health consensus states that every patient with hepatitis C should be considered for antiviral therapy. Identification of the patients, selection for therapy, the provision of good information, guidance of the patient during therapy and a successful management of side effects lead to better treatment compliance and are of paramount importance in obtaining maximal therapeutic efficacy. Supportive guidance during substance abuse withdrawal programmes and the adequate use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors should be part of these measures.