Monday, August 11, 2014

AASLD/IDSA New Section: When and In Whom to Initiate Hepatitis C Therapy



Today a new section was added to AASLD/IDSA recommendations for testing, managing, and treating Hepatitis C titled; When and in Whom to Initiate HCV Therapy.

Monday, August 11, 2014

We are pleased to introduce the newest section of the Guidance, When and in Whom to Initiate HCV Therapy. Successful hepatitis C treatment results in sustained virologic response (SVR), which is tantamount to virologic cure; virologic cure is expected to benefit chronically infected persons.

The American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), in collaboration with the International Antiviral Society-USA (IAS-USA), today released the latest section of their website, www.hcvguidance.org, which assists clinicians treating patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The new section is titled, "When and in Whom to Initiate HCV Therapy."

It is estimated that between 3 and 4 million Americans are infected with HCV and have chronic liver disease as a result. Recent direct-acting antivirals are extremely effective in treating the virus and hold great potential for cure. However, limitations of workforce and societal resources may limit the feasibility of treating all patients within a short period of time.

With the addition of the new section, www.hcvguidance.org now offers clinicians information on how to prioritize treatment for those patients who will derive the most benefit or will have the greatest impact on limiting further HCV transmission. Highest priority should be given to patients with advanced fibrosis with compensated cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients and high priority given to patients at high risk for liver-related complications and severe extra-hepatic HCV complications. The guidance provides further detailed information on additional conditions that warrant prioritization of treatment.

The website, developed by a panel of 27 liver disease and infectious diseases specialists and a patient advocate, provides recommendations based on the latest evidence and on consensus of the panelists. It will be updated regularly to keep pace with improved diagnostic tools and new drug options as they become available.

"The benefits of curing HCV are clear from the standpoint of individual patients as well as that of the health and welfare of our society. This new guidance will help clinicians determine the best course of therapy for each patient given their unique condition," said Barbara Murray, MD, president of IDSA.

The three organizations will continue to work together to provide future sections of the guidance website as well as timely updates. The next two sections are underway and cover monitoring patients following treatment and management of acute HCV infection.

"New therapies recently approved by the FDA and those that are in the pipeline and will reach market soon will completely change the landscape for patients with hepatitis C," said Steven Echard, AASLD chief executive officer. "We have filled a void in providing reputable and timely information to healthcare providers and their patients by addressing whom to treat and when, as well as identifying patients that are in immediate need of treatment and those who can safely wait for the next generation of drugs."

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