Review article: the epidemiology and therapy of chronic hepatitis C genotypes 4, 5 and 6
- PMID: 24251930
- DOI: 10.1111/apt.12551
Review article: the epidemiology and therapy of chronic hepatitis C genotypes 4, 5 and 6
Abstract
Background: The global burden of hepatitis C (HCV) infection is mostly found in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 are common. The literature on these genotypes is sparse and this synopsis will review characteristics of patients infected with these genotypes.
Aim: To review characteristics of patients infected with HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6.
Methods: PubMed search for 'hepatitis C' AND 'genotype 4', 'hepatitis C' AND 'genotype 5', and 'hepatitis C' AND 'genotype 6' was conducted and relevant articles were reviewed.
Results: Intravenous drug use is generally responsible for HCV genotype 4 infection in developed countries, but unsafe medical practices cause most cases of HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 in endemic countries. The sustained virological response (SVR) rate for patients with HCV genotype 4 who receive pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks ranges from 40% to 70% in various small studies. The SVR rate is in the 60-70% range for HCV genotype 5 and 70-80% range for HCV genotype 6 following 48 weeks with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Preliminary data suggest that a shorter course of 24 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin may be acceptable for HCV genotype 6, with an SVR rate of approximately 70%.
Conclusions: The current standard-of-care therapy for HCV genotypes 4, 5 and 6 is pegylated interferon and ribavirin for 48 weeks. A shorter course with 24 weeks of therapy may be considered for patients with genotype 6. Newer and much more effective therapies may be forthcoming in the next few years.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Comment in
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Letter: Response-guided treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 5 may be feasible.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Jun;39(11):1337-8. doi: 10.1111/apt.12702. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014. PMID: 24803251 No abstract available.
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Letter: Response-guided treatment of hepatitis C virus genotype 5 may be feasible--authors' reply.Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Jun;39(11):1338. doi: 10.1111/apt.12747. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2014. PMID: 24803252 No abstract available.
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