INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HCV HEPATITIS - TRICK OR TREAT

Chronic hepatitis caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common co ndition that leads to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Current treatment with interferon is unsatisfactory with a low percentage of p atients who respond and uncertain long-term significance; in addition, it is associated with some times severe side effects. The increasing sophistication of molecular biology has enabled viral characteristics such as viral load, genotypes. and quasi species to be identified, whi ch may help predict a patient's response to interferon treatment. We s uggest that interferon therapy for hepatitis C virus should be restric ted to referral centers in the context of controlled trials.