Summary
Virtually all haemophiliacs who received non-virucidally treated, large-pool clotting
factor concentrates before 1986 became infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although
approximately one-tenth of HCV-infected people have been shown to clear the infection
naturally, in the remaining cases the infection slowly progresses. Unfortunately,
a significant percentage of HCV-infected hemophilic patients were also co-infected
with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can accelerate the progression to cirrhosis
and liver failure. As regards treatment, combination therapy with interferon (IFN)
and ribavirin has improved the poor results obtained with IFN monotherapy and has
become the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Given the positive results obtained
with pegylated interferon in non-haemophiliacs, ongoing trials are evaluating this
promising therapy in HCV-chronically infected haemophilic patients. Finally, anti-HCV
treatment should also be considered for those haemophiliacs co-infected with HIV in
whom anti-retroviral treatment has stabilized the HIV infection.
Keywords
Hepatitis C virus infection - haemophilia - therapy