When and whom to treat – reference to chronic hepatitis C treatment

Abstract:

New direct-acting antiviral agents provide an opportunity for cure in more than 90% of patients. Unfortunately, due to their current price, not all patients can receive these drugs immediately. Thus the priority at this moment is given to patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C who are at greatest risk for developing cirrhosis complications. Guidelines from the Croatian Ministry of Health Reference Centre for Diagnostics and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis define treatment priorities, also enabling efficient therapies for other patient groups in which the disease is less advanced, aiming the provision of the therapy to as many patients as possible. By using the non-invasive method for the assessment of liver fibrosis, one can detect the patients with low disease activity in which the therapy can be postponed along with regular monitoring of the disease progression. New medicines at more affordable prices are expected in the future, allowing better access to effective treatment for all groups of patients.

Key words:
Croatian Ministry of Health Reference Centre for Diagnostics and Treatment of Viral Hepatitis; direct-acting antiviral agents; hepatitis C; treatment guidelines; treatment priorities