Short description:

Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Advances in Treatment, Promise for the Future documents the monumental advances that have been made in our understanding of chronic HCV during the past decade. The first section reviews the natural history of chronic HCV, how this virus can affect other organs in addition to the liver, and whether treating chronic HCV alters the natural history of this disease. Section 2 reviews the advances that have been made in the treatment of chronic HCV during the past decade with interferon based therapy. Separate chapters on response guided therapy and how to manage the adverse events associated with these medications provide the physician with the concepts required to more effectively treat chronic HCV now and in the future. As the genetics of virologic response have recently been elucidated, a chapter is devoted to helping the clinician understand how genes that modulate disease processes and their treatment are identified and utilized in clinical care. Section 3 deals with the future of HCV treatment and specific inhibitors of HCV. Specific chapters explain how targets for drugs are identified and how drugs are then developed and tested; how mutations of HCV develop and how anti-viral agents will affect this process; the most up to date data regarding the treatment of chronic HCV with peginterferon, ribavirin and anti-viral agents; and the potential to treat chronic HCV with just oral anti-viral agents and without peginterferon and ribavirin in the future. The final section of this book covers issues related to liver transplantation in patients with chronic HCV. Separate chapters review the natural history of chronic HCV in liver transplant recipients and the impact of utilizing HCV positive donors. The volume concludes with chapters that cover the treatment of chronic HCV both prior to and after liver transplantation with potent anti-viral agents. Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Advances in Treatment, Promise for the Future is avaluable resource for all physicians caring for patients with chronic HCV.

Long description:

Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Lessons from the Past, Promise for the Future documents the monumental advances that have been made in our understanding of chronic HCV during the past decade. The first section reviews the natural history of chronic HCV, how this virus can affect other organs in addition to the liver, and whether treating chronic HCV alters the natural history of this disease. Section 2 reviews the advances that have been made in the treatment of chronic HCV during the past decade with interferon based therapy. Separate chapters on response guided therapy and how to manage the adverse events associated with these medications provide the physician with the concepts required to more effectively treat chronic HCV now and in the future. As the genetics of virologic response have recently been elucidated, a chapter is devoted to helping the clinician understand how genes that modulate disease processes and their treatment are identified and utilized in clinical care. Section 3 deals with the future of HCV treatment and specific inhibitors of HCV. Specific chapters explain how targets for drugs are identified and how drugs are then developed and tested; how mutations of HCV develop and how anti-viral agents will affect this process; the most up to date data regarding the treatment of chronic HCV with peginterferon, ribavirin and anti-viral agents; and the potential to treat chronic HCV with just oral anti-viral agents and without peginterferon and ribavirin in the future. The final section of this book covers issues related to liver transplantation in patients with chronic HCV. Separate chapters review the natural history of chronic HCV in liver transplant recipients and the impact of utilizing HCV positive donors. The volume concludes with chapters that cover the treatment of chronic HCV both prior to and after liver transplantation with potent anti-viral agents. Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Lessons from the Past, Promise for the Future is avaluable resource for all physicians caring for patients with chronic HCV.

From the reviews:

?This book is an important contribution to the field. ? This well-written, concise, and current book will find a home on the shelves of many hepatologists and gastroenterologists. In addition, because it is so readable, it should be useful for students, GI/hepatology fellows, and midlevel providers dealing with patients and doing research. ? This is a concise, updated, and well-written book that belongs in the libraries of healthcare providers and researchers in the field of HCV infection as well as medical institutions.? (Paul Angulo, Doody?s Review Service, November, 2012)

?Chronic Hepatitis C Virus: Advances in Treatment, Promise for the Future represents a timely new text that is focused on the natural history, treatment, and liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. ? an excellent background reference for MD and PhD students, trainees, and clinicians in understanding the scientific basis for current management of chronic HCV infection and highlighting key areas for future investigation. ? is a welcome addition to any library and true to its name ? .? (Richard Sterling and Joseph Lim, Gastroenterology, Vol. 143 (6), 2012)

Table of Contents:

Epidemiology of Chronic HCV.- Acute HCV.-Assessing the Progression of Chronic HCV to Cirrhosis.- Chronic HCV and Steatosis.- Chronic HCV and Hepatocellular Carcinoma.-Extrahepatic Manifestations of Chronic HCV.-Chronic HCV and HIV Co-infection.- Chronic HCV in Patients with Renal Disease.-Does Treatment Alter the Natural History of Chronic HCV.-Treatment with Interferon and Ribavirin.- Immune Modulators and Other Agents.-Measuring HCV RNA and Assessing Virologic Response.- Response Guided Therapy.-Managing the Side Effects of Therapy.-The Genetics of Virologic Response.- Maintenance Therapy with Peginterferon.-Anti-viral Targets in HCV/-Mutations and the Development of Anti-viral Resistance.- Peginterferon, Ribavirin and Anti-viral Triple Therapy.-Treating Chronic HCV without Interferon and/or Ribavirin.- Maintenance Therapy with Oral Anti-viral Agents.- Natural History of Chronic HCV after Liver Transplantation.-Use of HCV Positive Organs in Patients with and without Chronic HCV.- Treating HCV Prior to Liver Transplantation.- Treating HCV after Liver Transplantation.