Pegylated interferon-alfa plus ribavirin therapies for chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

Until HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitors become available at the end of 2011, the combination pegylated-interferon (PEG-IFN)-alfa and ribavirin (RBV) will remain the standard treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients. In some hepatitis C virus-infected patients, PEG-IFN plus RBV treatment against HCV should continue to be used because of side effects of new drugs such as anemia. Our Japanese experiences should provide new information for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Keywords: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA), HCV, pegylated interferon, ribavirin, standard of care (SOC ).