A review of hepatitis c virus (HCV) and the current management of genotype 1 chronic HCV infection

Background: Chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the primary cause of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and end- stage liver disease. The addition of protease inhibitor with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin (triple therapy) for genotype 1 infected patients, are the current standard of care. Method: Data was sourced from available journals and internet based search using pubmed, medline and google search. Results: successful Treatment of Genotype 1 HCV infected patients with protease inhibitor based triple therapy has improved sustained virologic response (SVR) rates and treatment induced clearance of HCV infection. Conclusion: significant progress in the management of chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 with the introduction of protease inhibitor (PI) in 2011 with peginterferon and ribavirin has optimized sustained virologic response (SVR).