Sustained Virological Response and Hepatitis C-Related Cirrhosis: a World of Opportunities

Hepatitis C represents a serious health issue. Approximately 185 million people are infected with the virus and 350,000 people die every year as a consequence of this disease. New direct-acting antiviral agents achieve viral eradication in more that 90 % of the treated patients. More importantly, patients with advanced liver disease or those non-responders to a previous course of treatment with an interferon-based therapy will also have the chance of curing hepatitis C (HCV) infection with these new drugs. In compensated cirrhosis, effective antiviral therapies may improve liver outcomes avoiding the development of clinical decompensation or hepatocellular carcinoma. However, information about the effectiveness and safety of antiviral drugs in patients with more advanced disease (Child-Pugh B or C) is scarce and it is still unclear whether viral eradication translates into an improvement of liver function or cirrhosis regression.