The Challenging Road to Hepatitis C Virus Eradication

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a substantial health problem as a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide [1]. Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) develops in 75–100% of patients who remain plasma HCV-RNA positive after acute hepatitis C. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that there are about 71 million individuals with CHC worldwide, many of whom are unaware of their infections [1]. CHC causes persistent liver inflammation, leading to cirrhosis development in approximately 10–20% of patients after 20–30 years of HCV infection. Cirrhotic patients have a 1–5% annual risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma and a 3–6% risk of hepatic decompensation. Following an episode of decompensation, the risk of death in the following year is between 15 and 20% [2].