Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir administration achieves very high rate of viral clearance in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection without cirrhosis, regardless of ribavirin co-administration or length of treatment

Commentary on : Kowdley KV, Gordon SC, Reddy KR, et al. Ledipasvir and sofosbuvir for 8 or 12 weeks for chronic HCV without cirrhosis. N Engl J Med 2014;370:1879–88.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Approximately 150 million people worldwide are estimated to be chronic carriers of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Estimates indicate a quarter of HCV carriers will develop liver cirrhosis, which entails a risk of severe complications (hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensation, end-stage liver failure, death).1 Viral clearance significantly decreases disease progression and increases survival rates. Two antiviral approaches are currently available: interferon-based and interferon-free. Interferon-free therapies are the future of HCV treatment thanks to the optimal tolerability and safety, high efficacy and because they can be administered regardless of disease stage and impairment of other systems.2 The only approved interferon-free combination is ribavirin with sofosbuvir, which is indicated for genotype 2 or 3 infection, and for genotype 1 infection in case of … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DN%2BEngl%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D370%26rft.spage%253D1879%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1056%252FNEJMoa1402355%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F24720702%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1056/NEJMoa1402355&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=24720702&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F19%2F6%2F223.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000336123600004&link_type=ISI