Shifting Standards for Treatment of HCV
Pegylated interferon is the latest advance in HCV treatment (FDA approved, 2001). The standard interferon alfa has been conjugated to a molecule of polyethylene glycol (PEG), which has increased the half-life of the interferon. Pegylated interferon can be given as a once-weekly injection in contrast with the three-times weekly injection of standard interferon alfa. 

For those HCV-positive inmates who are going to be treated, initial treatment of chronic HCV with ribavirin/pegylated-interferon alfa is rapidly becoming the standard of care due to improved outcomes (see Table 1), when compared to standard (non-pegylated) combination therapy.16 This will be a significant change from years past, when standard (non pegylated) interferon alfa, in combination with ribivarin, was the standard of care. 
The standard regimen now consists of daily oral ribavirin (usually five to six pills divided into two doses) and once-weekly pegylated alfa-interferon injections (dosed by weight; see HCV 101 for dosing and side effects of treatment regimens). Standard interferon and/or monotherapy are currently only used if the patient cannot take pegylated interferon or ribavirin due to toxicities or side-effects (see Box 1 for anti-HCV drugs).

CONTINUE...
 

• HCV Epidemiology
• Inmates at Risk
• Targeted Screening
• Who Should Get Treated?
• Shifting Standards for Treatment of HCV
• Expect Delays
• Length of Treatment
• Expected Outcome
• Liver Biopsy
• HIV/HCV Coinfection
• HIV/HCV Response Therapy
• Cost of Treatment
• Management
• New Guidelines for Corrections
• Conclusion
• References
• Figures 1, 2 & 3
• Box 1 & 2
• Tables 1 & 2

HEPP News is published twelve times a year by the: HIV Education/Prison Project at the Brown University AIDS Program Box G-B426 Brown University Providence, Rhode Island 02912 401-863-2180 fax 401-863-1243 heppnews@brown.edu