Factors influencing hepatitis C cure in the era of direct-acting antivirals

Abstract

Direct-acting antiviral agents are highly potent drugs with a strong genetic barrier. Consequently, the factors influencing hepatitis C cure have been reduced and have progressively lost importance. Host factors, such as the presence of cirrhosis, race, and treatment adherence, influence sustained viral response. Adherence, together with treatment errors and drug interactions, are also important, especially in older patients. Viral factors, such as viral load, genotype, and the presence of baseline resistances affect the response rate but their influence can be minimised by using pan-genotypic regimens. Treatment simplification and the high efficacy of new antiviral treatments will allow treatment universalisation and will hopefully enable elimination of the infection in the next few decades. Supplement information: This article is part of a supplement entitled "The value of simplicity in hepatitis C treatment", which is sponsored by Gilead. © 2019 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Adherence; Adherencia; Chronic hepatitis C; Cirrhosis; Cirrosis; Factores pronósticos; Genotipo; Genotype; Hepatitis crónica C; Prognostic factors; Respuesta viral; Sustained viral; response; sostenida.