Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Lessons from the Past, Promise for the
Future documents the monumental advances that have been made in our
understanding of chronic HCV during the past decade. The first section
reviews the natural history of chronic HCV, how this virus can affect
other organs in addition to the liver, and whether treating chronic HCV
alters the natural history of this disease. Section 2 reviews the
advances that have been made in the treatment of chronic HCV during the
past decade with interferon based therapy. Separate chapters on response
guided therapy and how to manage the adverse events associated with
these medications provide the physician with the concepts required to
more effectively treat chronic HCV now and in the future. As the
genetics of virologic response have recently been elucidated, a chapter
is devoted to helping the clinician understand how genes that modulate
disease processes and their treatment are identified and utilized in
clinical care. Section 3 deals with the future of HCV treatment and
specific inhibitors of HCV. Specific chapters explain how targets for
drugs are identified and how drugs are then developed and tested; how
mutations of HCV develop and how anti-viral agents will affect this
process; the most up to date data regarding the treatment of chronic HCV
with peginterferon, ribavirin and anti-viral agents; and the potential
to treat chronic HCV with just oral anti-viral agents and without
peginterferon and ribavirin in the future. The final section of this
book covers issues related to liver transplantation in patients with
chronic HCV. Separate chapters review the natural history of chronic HCV
in liver transplant recipients and the impact of utilizing HCV positive
donors. The volume concludes with chapters that cover the treatment of
chronic HCV both prior to and after liver transplantation with potent
anti-viral agents. Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Lessons from the Past,
Promise for the Future is a valuable resource for all physicians caring
for patients with chronic HCV.
