Medical Updates in Hepatitis C: Advances in Treatment and Outcomes

Course overview

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major global and U.S. health challenge, contributing to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, extrahepatic complications, and preventable deaths. The advent of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) has revolutionized care, offering cure rates above 95% with shorter, safer regimens. This course reviews updated data on HCV epidemiology, transmission, and disease progression, with emphasis on current treatment standards, simplified regimens, and management of special populations such as patients with cirrhosis, renal disease, or HIV coinfection. Guidance on laboratory interpretation, monitoring, and retreatment is provided, alongside strategies for interprofessional collaboration to improve access and outcomes. A case study illustrates the broader benefits of HCV eradication, including diabetes remission, underscoring the importance of comprehensive, patient-centered care.