Online Guidelines Created to Help Treat Hepatitis C Virus

Includes evidence-based advice on the best use for next generation direct-acting antivirals.

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has created online guidelines for practitioners in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV).

The guide, which includes "Testing, Managing and Treating Hepatitis C" instructions, is intended for practitioners to treat HCV patients utilizing the best possible methods. AASLD partnered with the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the Antiviral Society - USA (ISA-USA), consulted 26 hepatologists, infectious disease specialists, and patient advocates in creating the guidelines, which include:

• Testing details for HCV
• Recommendations for initial treatment of HVC infection
• Retreatment options for patients who have failed prior therapy
• Unique patient populations data

"The Guidance is a living document that will continually be updated with evidence-based advice about how to best use the next generation of direct-acting antivirals and other treatment options," said Dr. Keith Lindor from the Arizona State University and President-elect of AASLD. "Our role as associations of researchers and clinicians is to provide key information in the appropriate format to patients and those who care for them."

In just 25 years, HCV has gone from an unknown disease to an epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of the 150 million people infected worldwide, 2.7 million are Americans.

"The good news is that HCV is now on the cusp of being a curable disease for the millions of Americans, many of whom are undiagnosed," said Dr. Gary Davis, President of MedLogician Consulting and co-chair of the AASLD/IDSA HCV Guidance writing panel. "The web-based Guidance document is an easy-to-use resource for practitioners treating HCV patients with novel antivirals."