Hepatitis C Management
Diagnosis and Testing
- A reactive Hepatitis C antibody test with a confirmatory reactive HCV RNA test indicates current, active Hepatitis C virus infection requiring antiviral treatment, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2, 3
- Reactive HCV antibody indicates exposure to Hepatitis C virus at some point, which could mean current infection, past resolved infection, or rarely a false positive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2
- Reactive (detected) HCV RNA definitively confirms current, active viral replication and ongoing infection, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 2, 3
- In most cases, persons with HCV viremia (detectable RNA) have chronic HCV infection, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2, 4
Treatment Approach
- Antiviral therapy is indicated for all patients with confirmed HCV viremia, as recommended by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 3, 6
- Direct-acting antiviral regimens (such as ledipasvir/sofosbuvir or sofosbuvir-based combinations) are the current standard of care, replacing older interferon-based regimens, according to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 3, 6
- Treatment duration typically ranges from 12-24 weeks depending on genotype, prior treatment history, and presence of cirrhosis, as stated by the American Gastroenterological Association 5
- Goal of therapy is viral eradication (sustained virologic response) to prevent complications including cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and death, as recommended by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases 3, 6
Preventive Measures
- Patients should avoid or reduce alcohol intake to limit disease progression, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1
- Patients should receive vaccination against hepatitis A and hepatitis B if not immune, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 5
- Patients should take precautions to prevent transmission to others through blood exposure, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, 3