New direct-acting Antivirals are changing chronic Hepatitis C treatment for the better. Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment has gone from a once exhausting 48 weeks duration to as a little as 8 weeks with a 95% sustained virologic response (SVR). SVR is defined as a viremia (the presence of viruses in the blood) 24 weeks after completion of antiviral therapy for chronic HCV infection (. In analyses of SVR durability, the incidence of late relapse is extremely low, less than 1%.
Hepatitis C: Cured or Cleared, for Now or for Life?
As I sit and listen to Robert speak about his experience in treatment, I am amazed at his resilience and will power to continue on. Robert cleared the virus after his 3rd week of treatment, or third shot of Peg-interferon, a drug that is helping his body fight the replication of the virus, and is now in his 22nd week of a 24 week treatment process.