Semin Liver Dis 2020; 40(03): 233-239
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1702944
Review Article

Postsustained Virological Response Management in Hepatitis C Patients

1   Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
,
1   Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
2   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
,
Matteo Colombo
1   Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
2   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
,
Massimo Colombo
1   Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
,
1   Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
2   Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Funding No financial support was received for the present study.

Abstract

The introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) has revolutionized management and care of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, leading to cure rates higher than 90% in patients with advanced liver disease as well. Viral eradication has been associated with longer survival, reduced mortality from both hepatic and extrahepatic causes, improvement in liver function, and reduced incidence of HCV-related extrahepatic diseases. While patients with mild fibrosis can safely be discharged after achievement of a sustained virological response, patients with advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis remain at risk of developing complications of liver disease, thus requiring regular and life-long surveillance. Major complications of cirrhosis that need to be monitored are hepatocellular carcinoma onset and development or progression of clinically significant portal hypertension.

Author Contributions

All authors equally contributed to this paper with the conception and design of the study, literature review, and analysis, drafting, critical revision and editing, and approval of the final version.




Publication History

Article published online:
27 February 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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