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Chronic Hepatitis C in Elderly Patients: Current Evidence with Direct-Acting Antivirals. Drugs Aging 2018; 35:117-122. [PMID: 29417462 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-017-0515-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), the outcomes of hepatitis C (HCV) treatment have shown an improvement in cure rates with minimal side effects. However, to date, the safety and efficacy of DAAs have not been specifically examined in elderly patients. The treatment of HCV in the era of pegylated interferon and ribavirin was more challenging among elderly patients due to the increased prevalence of multiple comorbid conditions associated with an increased risk of side effects, including anemia, and high rates of discontinuation, likely as a result of poor tolerability, resulting in lower rates of sustained virologic response (SVR). The advent of highly efficacious all-oral DAA agents with minimal adverse events has provided more data on the outcomes of treatment in the elderly population. The current evidence shows that DAA agents have been effective and safe in the elderly population, with comparable rates of SVR. The aim of this article was to review the safety and efficacy of commonly prescribed DAA agents in the management of chronic HCV in the elderly population.
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Huang CF, Yu ML. Treating hepatitis C in the elderly: pharmacotherapeutic considerations and developments. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2017; 18:1867-1874. [PMID: 29086615 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2017.1400010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection tends to be higher in the elderly than in younger populations. Meanwhile, age per sec is an unfavorable determinant that has an impact on liver-related outcomes. Geriatric chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients would be viewed as a special population and have an urgent need for viral eradication. Areas covered: The antivirals for CHC have evolved from interferon (IFN)-based therapyto interferon-free DAAs. The treatment strategy, in terms of its clinical efficacy and drug safety, in the elderly is presented. Expert opinion: In the previous IFN era, the sustained virological response (SVR) rate of the elderly was lower. More unfavorable safety concerns attributing to the underlying liver disease severity and extra-hepatic presentations further compromised the treatment efficacy. In the IFN-free DAA era, data showing similar SVR rates and safety profiles between the elderly and their counterparts have been demonstrated. Notably, aging is an unfavorable factor for fibrosis regression and HCC development even after HCV eradication. The extent of the improvement of extra-hepatic manifestations in the elderly with SVR is also unclear. The long-term benefits of viral eradication by DAAs in the elderly await further explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Feng Huang
- a Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,b Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,c Department of Occupational Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan
| | - Ming-Lung Yu
- a Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,b Faculty of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine , Kaohsiung Medical University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,d Institute of Biomedical Sciences , National Sun Yat-Sen University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan.,e Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology , Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,f College of Biological Science and Technology , National Chiao Tung University , Hsin-Chu , Taiwan
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