Advanced Therapy for Hepatitis C

According to the WHO, 170 million people, or 3% of the world's population, are infected with Hepatitis C and at risk of developing liver cirrhosis and/or liver cancer. 3-4 million people each year are newly diagnosed carriers of the virus.

Advanced Therapy for Hepatitis C Infection provides you with expert guidance from the world’s leading hepatologists on the very latest treatment options for patients with the HCV virus. Focusing mainly on the efficacy and clinical use of antiviral therapies, key topics include:

Treatment of recurrent hepatitis C following liver transplantation
Antivirals in Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension
HIV and Hepatitis C co-infection
Cytopenias: how they limit therapy and potential correction
The problem of insulin resistance and its effect on therapy
Antivirals in Acute Hepatitis C

In addition, it fully covers the foundations for understanding antiviral therapies in HCV, such as the complex pharmacology and mechanisms of antiviral drugs. Finally, a chapter on New Horizons: Interleukin 28 and direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV, offers you a glimpse into the future possibilities for HCV therapy.

Edited by a team of outstanding international reputation, Advanced Therapy for Hepatitis C Infection is an essential tool for all hepatologists and gastroenterologists involved in the management of patients with Hepatitis C.

Contributors, vii

Preface, xi

Section I Foundations for Understanding Antiviral Therapies in HCV

1 HCV Replication, 3
Michael R. Beard

2 Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes, 12
Scott A. Read and Mark W. Douglas

3 Immune Responses to HCV: Implications for Therapy, 17
David G. Bowen

4 Mechanisms of Action of Antiviral Drugs: The Interferons, 25
Edmund Tse and Michael R. Beard

5 Pharmacology and Mechanisms of Action of Antiviral Drugs: Ribavirin Analogs, 36
Fred Poordad and Grace M. Chee

6 Pharmacology and Mechanisms of Action of Antiviral Drugs: Polymerase Inhibitors, 43
Lotte Coelmont, Leen Delang, Mathy Froeyen, Piet Herdewijn and Johan Neyts

7 Pharmacology and Mechanisms of Action of Antiviral Drugs: Protease Inhibitors, 53
Laurent Chatel-Chaix, Martin Baril and Daniel Lamarre

8 Measuring Antiviral Responses, 60
Jean-Michel Pawlotsky and Stephane Chevaliez

Section II Efficacy and Clinical Use of Antiviral Therapies

9 Genotype 1: Standard Treatment, 67
Rebekah G. Gross and Ira M. Jacobson

10 Individually Tailored Treatment Strategies in Treatment-na¨ive Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Patients, 74
Johannes Wiegand and Thomas Berg

11 Genotype 1 Relapsers and Non-responders, 84
Salvatore Petta and Antonio Crax`i

12 Standard Therapy for Genotypes 2/3, 90
Kenneth Yan and Amany Zekry

13 Altered Dosage or Durations of Current Antiviral Therapy for HCV Genotypes 2 and 3, 97
Alessandra Mangia, Leonardo Mottola and Angelo Andriulli

14 Genotypes 2 and 3 Relapse and Non-response, 104
Stella Mart´inez, Jose Maria Sanchez-Tapias and Xavier Forns

15 Hepatitis C Genotype 4 Therapy: Progress and Challenges, 113
Sanaa M. Kamal

16 Antivirals in Acute Hepatitis C, 127
Heiner Wedemeyer

17 Antivirals in Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension, 132
Diarmuid S. Manning and Nezam H. Afdhal

18 Treatment of Recurrent Hepatitis C Following Liver Transplantation, 140
Ed Gane

19 Antiviral Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection with Extrahepatic Manifestations, 150
Benjamin Terrier and Patrice Cacoub

20 Cytopenias: How they Limit Therapy and Potential Correction, 160
Mitchell L. Shiffman

21 The Problem of Insulin Resistance and its Effect on Therapy, 169
Venessa Pattullo and Jacob George

22 HIV and Hepatitis C Co-infection, 177
Gail V. Matthews and Gregory J. Dore

23 HCV and Racial Differences, 185
Andrew J. Muir

24 HCV and the Pediatric Population, 190
Kathleen B. Schwarz

25 New Horizons: IL28, Direct-acting Antiviral Therapy for HCV, 196
Alexander J. Thompson, John G. McHutchison and Geoffrey W. McCaughan

Index, 215

Professor Geoff McCaughan is Director of the AW Morrow Liver Centre and Physician in Charge at the Australian National Liver Transplant Unit.

John McHutchison is a professor of medicine at Duke University Medical Center, and since 2002, Director of the DCRI’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research division.