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The goal of chronic hepatitis C treatment is to reduce the amount of virus in the blood and to slow the progression of the disease to prevent cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, and other complications.
All the currently available therapies for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C are based on the activity of a group of biological agents called alpha interferons.
Alpha interferons are proteins produced by the human immune system in response to attack by a virus. Interferons do not attack virus particles directly but instead cause the release of specific chemicals by other healthy cells to protect them from attack. Alpha interferons can also be modified through a process called pegylation to make them stay in the body for a longer time.
In 2002, the National Institutes of Health held a conference in which they discussed and updated the current state of knowledge about hepatitis C. At present, the approach recommended in the National Institutes of Health consensus conference statement for patients newly diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C is to use pegylated alpha interferons in combination with the antiviral drug ribavirin.
Combination therapy with alpha interferons and ribavirin is associated with many serious side effects and cannot be used by some patients, such as pregnant women and men whose partners are pregnant.
If you need information on treatment options, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can tell you more about available treatment options and whether treatment is appropriate for you. If your doctor decides treatment is necessary, he or she may choose to treat you or refer you to a specialist such as a gastroenterologist or hepatologist for treatment.
The Be In Charge® Program is a free service designed to help you cope with your hepatitis C treatment. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C, contact the Be In Charge Program today.
See also:
Importance of Treatment for Hepatitis C
Next Steps If You're Hepatitis C Positive
Who Needs Treatment for Hepatitis C?
Approved Treatments for Hepatitis C
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