Antiviral agents and hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver cancer and liver transplantation. In 70% to 80% of the people infected, the virus creates a chronic carrier state and the patient will be clinically asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Two new direct-acting antiviral agents, boceprevir and telaprivir, both protease inhibitors, have been approved by the FDA for treatment of Hepatitis C genotype 1. The current hepatitis C post-exposure protocol is that no immediate post-exposure therapy is advised, but the dental healthcare worker should be tested periodically and offered antiviral therapy if a chronic carrier state exists.