Treatment of Hepatitis C virus infection in Italy: A consensus report from an expert panel

Area of Science:

• Hepatology
• Virology
• Public Health

Background:

• Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global cause of chronic liver disease.
• Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized CHC treatment, achieving high sustained virological response (SVR) rates and demonstrating excellent safety in real-world practice.
• Evolving international guidelines for DAAs exist, but universal application is hindered by reimbursement delays and varying national health system priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the Italian treatment experience with DAAs for chronic HCV infection (CHC).
• To address unmet needs in optimizing antiviral therapy for specific CHC patient populations.
• To provide expert consensus and statements on open issues regarding DAAs in Italy.

Main Methods:

• A consensus meeting of Italian experts was convened in Stresa in February 2017.
• The meeting focused on reviewing the Italian DAA treatment experience and identifying areas for optimization.
• The output is a position paper summarizing considerations and statements on CHC treatment.

Main Results:

• DAAs have demonstrated high SVR rates and favorable safety profiles in Italian real-world practice.
• Challenges remain in equitable access and treatment prioritization within the Italian National Health System.
• Expert discussions identified specific patient settings requiring tailored treatment optimization strategies.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing DAA therapy for CHC in Italy requires addressing access barriers and treatment prioritization.
• Further expert consensus is needed to refine treatment strategies for diverse CHC patient groups.
• The Italian experience highlights the need for adaptable guidelines to maximize DAA benefits nationwide.