Highlights of the guidelines of prevention and treatment for hepatitis C (2019 version)

Abstract

The key points from the updated guideline of prevention and treatment for hepatitis C (2019 version) is compared with the previous hepatitis C guideline. A new terminology and the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public-health threat by 2030 are stressed. In the prevention section, the screening for hepatitis C virus infection in high-risk population is the primary means of prevention, emphasizing that treatment, is prevention. In the aspect of treatment, pangenotypic interferon-free scheme are initial recommendations. In addition, it also introduces our country independent research and development on direct-acting antiviral agents, and antiviral therapy schedule for many special populations, including decompensated liver cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, children and adolescents combined with chronic kidney injury, HBV infection-before and after liver transplantation, treatment failure, and acute hepatitis C. A simplified on-treatment monitoring schedule, especially genotype 3 prevalent in Southwest part of our country is introduced.