Viral-guided hepatitis C therapy

Predicting hepatitis C treatment outcomes is of great benefit to patient and clinician. Baseline predictors of response or failure can set the appropriate expectations for the patient and may aid in decision making about starting therapy. An accurate assessment of the potential for treatment success involves using rapid and early viral kinetics at weeks 4 and 12. These time points are useful to set up stopping rules and to provide motivation for the patient and health care provider to continue when appropriate. Relapse is an unfortunate consequence of therapy in a significant number of patients. Baseline and on-treatment viral assessments are useful in helping predict and perhaps reduce this phenomenon.