[Current advances in hepatitis C treatment]

Area of Science:

• Hepatology and Viral Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases and Public Health

Context:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection presents a substantial public health challenge in Mexico.
• High-risk populations require timely diagnosis to prevent chronic disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
• The current standard of care (SOC) for HCV, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, demonstrates suboptimal response rates (approx. 57%) for genotype 1, the most prevalent in Mexico.

Purpose:

• To review current therapeutic strategies for optimizing Hepatitis C virus treatment.
• To explore future treatment modalities, including directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs).
• To discuss the potential for interferon-free therapy to improve sustained virological response rates.

Summary:

• The standard of care for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Mexico has limited efficacy, with 30-60% of patients not achieving a sustained virological response.
• This review examines current treatment options and future strategies, including the integration of directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs).
• The goal is to enhance treatment optimization and move towards interferon-free regimens for improved cure rates.

Impact:

• Optimizing Hepatitis C virus treatment can reduce the incidence of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in Mexico.
• The integration of novel directly acting antiviral drugs (DAAs) promises to significantly improve treatment efficacy.
• Future interferon-free therapies aim to increase sustained virological response rates, potentially eradicating Hepatitis C virus infection.