Triple therapy with first-generation protease inhibitors for patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C: recommendations of the Italian association for the study of the liver (AISF)

Abstract

The first-generation Protease Inhibitors Boceprevir and Telaprevir administered in triple therapy regimens with Peg-interferon alpha and Ribavirin have been proven effective in increasing the rate of Sustained Virological Response in both naive and treatment-experienced patients with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C. However, at the individual level, the therapeutic advantage of triple therapy is highly variable and results from the combination of multiple factors related to the characteristics of patient, viral status and liver disease. The recommendations presented are promoted by the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver, with the aim to help the physician in the decision-making process as well as to manage patients during treatment with triple therapy.

Keywords: Boceprevir; Cirrhosis; Hepatitis C; Pegylated-interferon; Ribavirin; Telaprevir.