Virological Tools to Diagnose and Monitor HCV Infection

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x/abstract

Virological Tools to Diagnose and Monitor HCV Infection

Stéphane ChevaliezDOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online for future

issues)

Abstract

Approximately 200 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C

virus. HCV infection is curable by therapy, with the current standard treatment

based on the combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Viral

eradication is however achieved in approximately half of treated-patients. In

2011 new antiviral treatment based on triple combination with a protease

inhibitor will be available. Virological tools are essential to diagnose HCV

infection, but they have found their principal application in guiding treatment

decisions and assessing the virological responses to therapy. These include the

anti-HCV antibody assay, measurements of HCV core antigen and HCV viral load and

HCV genotyping. HCV RNA can be ideally assayed by a real-time assay with a limit

of detection of 10-15 IU/mL. Monitoring of viral kinetics during the early

phases of antiviral treatment is crucial in making treatment decisions such as

early stopping rules and also in optimizing the treatment duration. The HCV

genotype should be assessed before the start of treatment because it determines

the treatment length and ribavirin dose and also offers prognostic information

on treatment outcomes as certain genotypes respond more favorably to treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x/abstract

Virological Tools to Diagnose and Monitor HCV Infection

Stéphane ChevaliezDOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online for future

issues)

Abstract

Approximately 200 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C

virus. HCV infection is curable by therapy, with the current standard treatment

based on the combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Viral

eradication is however achieved in approximately half of treated-patients. In

2011 new antiviral treatment based on triple combination with a protease

inhibitor will be available. Virological tools are essential to diagnose HCV

infection, but they have found their principal application in guiding treatment

decisions and assessing the virological responses to therapy. These include the

anti-HCV antibody assay, measurements of HCV core antigen and HCV viral load and

HCV genotyping. HCV RNA can be ideally assayed by a real-time assay with a limit

of detection of 10-15 IU/mL. Monitoring of viral kinetics during the early

phases of antiviral treatment is crucial in making treatment decisions such as

early stopping rules and also in optimizing the treatment duration. The HCV

genotype should be assessed before the start of treatment because it determines

the treatment length and ribavirin dose and also offers prognostic information

on treatment outcomes as certain genotypes respond more favorably to treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x/abstract

Virological Tools to Diagnose and Monitor HCV Infection

Stéphane ChevaliezDOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online for future

issues)

Abstract

Approximately 200 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C

virus. HCV infection is curable by therapy, with the current standard treatment

based on the combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Viral

eradication is however achieved in approximately half of treated-patients. In

2011 new antiviral treatment based on triple combination with a protease

inhibitor will be available. Virological tools are essential to diagnose HCV

infection, but they have found their principal application in guiding treatment

decisions and assessing the virological responses to therapy. These include the

anti-HCV antibody assay, measurements of HCV core antigen and HCV viral load and

HCV genotyping. HCV RNA can be ideally assayed by a real-time assay with a limit

of detection of 10-15 IU/mL. Monitoring of viral kinetics during the early

phases of antiviral treatment is crucial in making treatment decisions such as

early stopping rules and also in optimizing the treatment duration. The HCV

genotype should be assessed before the start of treatment because it determines

the treatment length and ribavirin dose and also offers prognostic information

on treatment outcomes as certain genotypes respond more favorably to treatment.

[Guest guest]

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x/abstract

Virological Tools to Diagnose and Monitor HCV Infection

Stéphane ChevaliezDOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03418.x

European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious

Issue

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

Accepted Article (Accepted, unedited articles published online for future

issues)

Abstract

Approximately 200 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C

virus. HCV infection is curable by therapy, with the current standard treatment

based on the combination of pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. Viral

eradication is however achieved in approximately half of treated-patients. In

2011 new antiviral treatment based on triple combination with a protease

inhibitor will be available. Virological tools are essential to diagnose HCV

infection, but they have found their principal application in guiding treatment

decisions and assessing the virological responses to therapy. These include the

anti-HCV antibody assay, measurements of HCV core antigen and HCV viral load and

HCV genotyping. HCV RNA can be ideally assayed by a real-time assay with a limit

of detection of 10-15 IU/mL. Monitoring of viral kinetics during the early

phases of antiviral treatment is crucial in making treatment decisions such as

early stopping rules and also in optimizing the treatment duration. The HCV

genotype should be assessed before the start of treatment because it determines

the treatment length and ribavirin dose and also offers prognostic information

on treatment outcomes as certain genotypes respond more favorably to treatment.