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The Evolution of HCV Treatment in Taiwan

  • Global Perspectives: Taiwan and Asia (ML Yu and RN Chien, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

The treatment strategies used in Taiwan for patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) have evolved from conventional interferon monotherapy, consensus interferon therapy, conventional interferon/ribavirinand to pegylated interferon/ribavirin combination therapy. In the past two decades, the sustained virological response (SVR) rate in Taiwanese patients improved from 6 to 75-90 %. By following genotype-guided therapy, an SVR rate of 75-80 % and 85-95 % could be achieved in Taiwanese patients with HCV-1 and HCV-2 infections, respectively. The study of HCV viral kinetics has facilitated studies in Taiwan regarding response-guided therapy with tailored regimens. The majority of Taiwanese patients can be treated successfully with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. The application of IL-28B genetic tests and the insight provided by the viral kinetics might aid in selecting the best candidates for treatment with direct antivirals in the near future in Taiwan.

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Conflict of Interest

Chung-Feng Huang, Wan-Long Chuang, and Ming-Lung Yu all declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chung-Feng Huang

  2. Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine and Hepatitis Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chung-Feng Huang, Wan-Long Chuang & Ming-Lung Yu

  3. Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Chung-Feng Huang

  4. Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Wan-Long Chuang & Ming-Lung Yu

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  1. Chung-Feng Huang
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  2. Wan-Long Chuang
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Correspondence to Ming-Lung Yu.

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Huang, CF., Chuang, WL. & Yu, ML. The Evolution of HCV Treatment in Taiwan. Curr Hepatitis Rep 12, 143–148 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-013-0172-8

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