Current therapy of hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C is a mild disease, with most infected people unaware that they have it. Worldwide, 170 million people are infected, and therefore the burden of morbidity and mortality is significant (decompensated liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma). The treatment of patients with hepatitis C has significantly improved over the past few years, such that high sustained virological responses can be obtained: >80% in genotypes 2 and 3 and >50% in genotype 1. Treatment in genotypes 2 and 3 should be considered in all patients, whereas in genotype 1 the decision has to be based on the presence of fibrosis in the liver biopsy and general patient characteristics. Guidelines for antiviral therapy are given in this overview.