Contemporary Insights into Hepatitis C Virus: A Comprehensive Review
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Updated: Jun 22, 2025
A Protocol for Analyzing Hepatitis C Virus Replication
Published on: June 26, 2014
Malik Sallam1,2, Roaa Khalil1
1Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment has advanced with direct-acting antivirals, but challenges like DAA access and resistance persist. Ongoing research into diagnostics, prevention, and vaccines is crucial for HCV eradication.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects 50 million globally, causing significant morbidity and mortality.
- Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have improved treatment but challenges remain.
- Eradication of HCV is hindered by access, variable response rates, and resistance-associated substitutions (RASs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive review of current HCV knowledge.
- To address challenges in DAA access, response rates, and emerging RASs.
- To highlight progress and persistent barriers in HCV management and prevention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
- Focus on current challenges, including RASs and vaccine development.
- Analysis of public health policies and epidemiological trends.
Main Results:
- DAAs offer high cure rates but face challenges in global access and resistance.
- RASs can confer resistance to DAAs, impacting treatment efficacy.
- Vaccine development and improved diagnostics are critical for HCV elimination.
Conclusions:
- Despite DAA advancements, HCV eradication requires addressing access, resistance, and prevention barriers.
- Continued research and updated strategies are essential for achieving global HCV elimination goals.
- A multi-faceted approach integrating diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines is needed to combat the HCV burden.
Abstract:
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a significant global health challenge. Approximately 50 million people were living with chronic hepatitis C based on the World Health Organization as of 2024, contributing extensively to global morbidity and mortality. The advent and approval of several direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens significantly improved HCV treatment, offering potentially high rates of cure for chronic hepatitis C. However, the promising aim of eventual HCV eradication remains challenging. Key challenges include the variability in DAA access across different regions, slightly variable response rates to DAAs across diverse patient populations and HCV genotypes/subtypes, and the emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs), potentially conferring resistance to DAAs. Therefore, periodic reassessment of current HCV knowledge is needed. An up-to-date review on HCV is also necessitated based on the observed shifts in HCV epidemiological trends, continuous development and approval of therapeutic strategies, and changes in public health policies. Thus, the current comprehensive review aimed to integrate the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnostic approaches, treatment options and preventive strategies for HCV, with a particular focus on the current challenges associated with RASs and ongoing efforts in vaccine development. This review sought to provide healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers with the necessary insights to address the HCV burden more effectively. We aimed to highlight the progress made in managing and preventing HCV infection and to highlight the persistent barriers challenging the prevention of HCV infection. The overarching goal was to align with global health objectives towards reducing the burden of chronic hepatitis, aiming for its eventual elimination as a public health threat by 2030.
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