Pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for hepatitis C virus infection.

摘要: We are pleased to serve as editors of this special issue. were gratified by the excellent response call for papers and high quality eleven manuscripts that ultimately accepted issue. This issue begins, is appropriate, with a historical perspective R. M. Friedman S. Contente from Uniformed Services University Health Sciences on treatment chronic hepatitis C interferon, followed paper C.-H. Chen M.-L. Yu Kaohsiung Medical tracing evolution interferon-based therapy, including addition ribavirin pegylation interferon. Both these provide an interesting capsule where we began initial recognition antiviral activity interferon in 1957, therapy mid-1990s demonstration superiority pegylated (peginterferon) plus early 2000s. The sustained virologic (SVR) rate increased 8%–9% monotherapy 30% genotype 1 patients ribavirin, then 40%–50% transition peginterferon ribavirin. As noted several issue, threshold increasing SVR 2011 up 65%–75% protease inhibitor standard care Thus, advances continue march forward, rates less than 10% close 75% very near future triple using inhibitor. What remarkable progress has all taken place within past 20 years. In next paper, T. Kagawa E. Keeffe review recent literature evaluating long-term outcomes convincingly demonstrate impact C. published data shows slowed disease progression who achieve SVR, improved inflammation fibrosis scores follow-up biopsy, reduced incidence hepatocellular carcinoma, prolonged life expectancy liver-related deaths. over years paying dividends our patients. The prediction important considering embarking course providers improve their ability predict success individual taking into account baseline host (age, race, gender, histology (stage presence or absence steatosis), body weight, insulin resistance, IL28B genotype) viral factors (genotype HCV RNA level). A number address predictors response. N. Izumi et al. thorough scholarly various relative importance. Cubillas Southwestern Center Dallas elegantly tumor necrosis factor receptor upregulated dendritic cells respond therapy. Although not clinically available, Kubota erythrocyte levels can which more likely after 12 weeks treatment. A miscellaneous populations. Numata Japanese medical centers treated 122 infection demonstrated multivariate analysis adherence was only predictor SVR. fell sharply when exposure 80% also decreased stepwise fashion 60%–80% 60% compared greater 80%. D. F. Meyer New York report daily high-dose consensus (24 μg) weight-based successful nonresponders prior associated substantial side effects. Y. Hwang H. Liang Queen Mary Hospital Hong Kong hematologic point out demonstrates increase during chemotherapy immunosuppression there risk rebound immunity against liver injury discontinuation immunosuppression. They recommend monitoring appropriate should be deferred until complete recovery immunity. Weclawiak focus management hemodialysis reinforce recommendation treat dialysis, eliminates recurrence kidney transplantation. transplantation because acute allograft rejection. Finally, Sugawara Tokyo controversies challenges recurrent no general who, how treat, overall 25%–45% spite prevalence intolerability. newer therapies may bring posttransplant infection. The confident readers will enjoy reading diverse topics expertly reviewed. Tatehiro Kagawa Emmet B. Keeffe Ming-Lung