Treating chronic hepatitis C: Do we finally have the answer?

April 29th, 2011

Treating chronic hepatitis C: Do we finally have the answer?

Although the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection has come a long way, I have been frustrated that less than half of patients are cured with current interferon/ribavirin based therapy. That is why I have been closely watching the data related to the use of protease inhibitors such as telaprevir and boceprevir.

Now that the data demonstrate the remarkable effectiveness of these agents, gastroenterologists will have to consider how and when they will be used, what changes in monitoring will be necessary, and whether infectious disease doctors will take over this treatment (http://blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-observations/index.php/hepatitis-c-week-is-upon-us/2011/04/28).

So I am asking you:
Will you use these agents as soon as they become available?
Are you comfortable using a protease inhibitor along with IF/ribavirin?
How will this alter your monitoring?
What are your thoughts about ID specialists managing these patients?

Gut Check on Gastroenterology Archive

Gut Check on Gastroenterology, an NEJM Journal Watch blog focusing on issues in clinical gastroenterology, was active from 2008 to 2014. This archive contains all posts and discussions from Gut Check’s history.

April 29th, 2011