Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
05:46

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors

Published on: April 9, 2014

Current clinical care compared with new Dutch guidelines for hepatitis C treatment

S Slavenburg1, M H Lamers, R Roomer

  • 1Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. S.Slavenburg@MDL.umcn.nl

The Netherlands Journal of Medicine
|July 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Dutch physicians largely follow new hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment guidelines. However, managing treatment side effects requires further refinement for optimal patient care.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • New Dutch guidelines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment establish the current standard of care.
  • A study was conducted to assess current clinical practices for HCV patient care among Dutch physicians prior to guideline implementation.
  • The research aimed to identify areas for improvement in existing HCV treatment protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the adherence of Dutch physicians to the newly issued guidelines for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment.
  • To identify specific aspects of HCV patient management that could benefit from future refinement.

Main Methods:

  • A non-targeted survey was distributed to Dutch specialists in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Internal Medicine actively treating HCV patients.
  • The survey utilized clinical vignettes and short questions to gather data on treatment facilities, duration, dosing, and side effect management.

Main Results:

  • Responses were received from 49 HCV specialists, with 65% treating patients in regular outpatient clinics and 35% in dedicated HCV care settings.
  • The majority of physicians adhered to recommended dosages for pegylated interferon (88%) and ribavirin (83%), though 13% exceeded ribavirin dosage.
  • Neutropenia was primarily managed by reducing interferon dosage (42%), while 35% reduced ribavirin for low hemoglobin and 41% used erythropoietin.

Conclusions:

  • Current clinical practices in the Netherlands align well with the recently published HCV treatment guidelines.
  • Management of treatment-related side effects represents a key area for future improvement in HCV therapy.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care01:29

Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care

The management of chronic pancreatitis is multifaceted, involving a comprehensive approach that includes thorough assessment, diagnostic testing, and a variety of management strategies.
Assessment:
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow01:26

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow

Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...