Effects of combined IFN-alpha/ribavirin treatment in HCV disease-related progression

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the main causes of liver disease in the world. Although public health policy in Western countries has decreased the number of new infections, the number of patients with advanced liver disease is increasing (Armstrong et al., 2000; Kim, 2002). Available epidemiological studies (Davis et al., 2003; Fattovich et al., 1997) have shown that chronic hepatitis C progresses slowly to cirrhosis and may eventually lead to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The annual rate of developing cirrhosis is very variable, ranging from 0-8% (Forns et al., 2001; Yano et al., 1996); however, once cirrhosis has been established, HCC development and decompensated cirrhosis occur at an annual incidence of 1.4% and 3.9%, respectively (Colombo et al., 1991; Tsukuma et al., 1993). The prognosis of decompensated HCV-related cirrhosis is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of only 50% (Fattovich et al., 1997). © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.