Abstract
More than 70 million people are chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV)
worldwide. Chronic hepatitis C is associated with progressive liver fibrosis, which
can result in cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCV-related
liver disease has been the most common indication for liver transplantation in the
past decade. The development of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) that are simple,
well-tolerated, and highly effective means that most people living with hepatitis
C can now be cured, leading the World Health Organization to set targets for reduction
in deaths due to viral hepatitis by 2030. In this review, the authors will consider
the emerging data showing that curative therapy with DAAs can prevent HCV-related
morbidity and mortality, with a focus on patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.
Keywords
mortality - decompensation - liver failure - transplant - hepatocellular carcinoma
- elimination
