Ahmed Khulood T, Almashhrawi Ashraf A, Ibdah Jamal A, Tahan Veysel
Khulood T Ahmed, Ashraf A Almashhrawi, Jamal A Ibdah, Veysel Tahan, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, United States.
World J Hepatol. 2017 Jul 28;9(21):921-929. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v9.i21.921.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) which was originally recognized as posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis has been a major global health problem affecting 3% of the world population. Interferon/peginterferon and ribavirin combination therapy was the backbone of chronic HCV therapy for two decades of the journey. However, the interferon based treatment success rate was around 50% with many side effects. Many chronic HCV patients with psychiatric diseases, or even cytopenias, were ineligible for HCV treatment. Now, we no longer need any injectable medicine. New direct-acting antiviral agents against HCV allowed the advance of interferon-free and ribavirin-free oral regimens with high rates of response and tolerability. The cost of the medications should not be a barrier to their access in certain parts of the world. While we are getting closer, we should still focus on preventing the spread of the disease, screening and delivering the cure globally to those in need. In the near future, development of an effective vaccine against HCV would make it possible to eradicate HCV infection worldwide completely.
丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）最初被认定为输血后非甲非乙型肝炎，现已成为一个重大的全球健康问题，影响着全球3%的人口。在长达二十年的历程中，干扰素/聚乙二醇干扰素与利巴韦林联合疗法一直是慢性丙型肝炎治疗的核心。然而，基于干扰素的治疗成功率约为50%，且伴有诸多副作用。许多患有精神疾病甚至血细胞减少症的慢性丙型肝炎患者没有资格接受丙型肝炎治疗。如今，我们不再需要任何注射药物。新型抗丙型肝炎病毒直接作用抗病毒药物使无干扰素和无利巴韦林的口服治疗方案得以发展，且具有高应答率和耐受性。在世界某些地区，药物成本不应成为获取药物的障碍。尽管我们正不断接近目标，但仍应专注于预防疾病传播、进行全球筛查并为有需要的人提供治愈方法。在不久的将来，研发出有效的丙型肝炎疫苗将使在全球彻底根除丙型肝炎感染成为可能。
