Side effects of medical therapy for chronic hepatitis C

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has improved greatly over the past decade. Over half of all patients treated with the combination of peginterferon and ribavirin have the opportunity to achieve sustained virologic response. The major factors which interfere with this goal are the sid...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shiffman Mitchell L, MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2004-01-01
Series:Annals of Hepatology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1665268119321180
Description
Summary:The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has improved greatly over the past decade. Over half of all patients treated with the combination of peginterferon and ribavirin have the opportunity to achieve sustained virologic response. The major factors which interfere with this goal are the side effects of therapy which require that the doses of peginterferon or ribavirin be reduced or that these medications be discontinued. While some of these side effects can be overcome and treatment continued, some side effects are severe and potentially life threatening. Appropriate recognition and management of these side effects will both improve response to therapy and avoid unnecessary morbidity and mortality.
ISSN:1665-2681