Thromb Haemost 2004; 92(06): 1259-1268
DOI: 10.1160/TH04-08-0510
Review Article
Schattauer GmbH

Hepatitis C in haemophiliacs

Massimo Franchini
1   Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusione – Centro Emofilia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Verona, Verona, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 17 August 2004

Accepted after revision 27 September 2004

Publication Date:
02 December 2017 (online)

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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.