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The main treatment for hepatitis C is to kill the virus that causes the disease. A combination of two antiviral drugs — peginterferon and ribavirin — is successful in eliminating the virus in as many as half those treated.
New research has shown that success rates can be improved even more in people with a form of hepatitis known as genotype 1, the most common form of hepatitis C. Research showed that adding a drug called a protease inhibitor to the antiviral combination eliminated the virus in 70 to 80 percent of people with genotype 1.
The protease inhibitors attack the hepatitis C virus directly and keep it from reproducing. Two new protease inhibitors have recently been approved to use for hepatitis C — boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek). They are used in addition to the antivirals ribavirin (Rebetol, Ribasphere, Copegus) and peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys).
People with the other forms of hepatitis C (genotypes 2, 3 and 4) continue to be treated with peginterferon and ribavirin.
Side effects are observed in most people receiving antiviral drugs for chronic hepatitis C virus. Most common are fatigue, flu-like symptoms and shortage of red blood cells (anemia).
Protease inhibitors, unfortunately, interact in a variety of ways with other drugs, which can lead to potentially serious side effects.
Mayo Clinic specialists are experienced in managing the drug treatments for hepatitis C. Mayo also has sophisticated testing to help tailor treatment to your individual needs, including:
You also have the opportunity to participate in appropriate trials of new antiviral therapies, which are continually being tested at Mayo Clinic.
If your liver is severely damaged, Mayo Clinic is experienced in performing a liver transplant to treat your disease. Mayo Clinic has one of the largest liver transplant programs in the world in terms of volume of transplants.
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