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Properties of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease burden are heterogeneous across Europe with differences in incidence, prevalence, diagnosis and treatment rates, transmission routes, and genotype distribution.
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Injective drug use has replaced medical procedures as the major transmission risk factor for HCV in Europe.
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Recent estimates expect an increase in HCV-related morbidity and mortality in most European countries until 2030 even when current treatment options are taken into account.
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Highly
Hepatitis C Virus: A European Perspective
Section snippets
Key points
The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Europe
Epidemiologic data on HCV prevalence, diagnosis rate, genotype distribution, and major risk factors for HCV transmission for several representative European countries are illustrated in Fig. 1.
Approved hepatitis C virus treatment options in the European Union
Since the approval of the first DAAs telaprevir and boceprevir in 2011, the portfolio of highly effective HCV treatment options has increased tremendously. In the last 2 years, 7 new DAAs have been approved in the European Union, which are NS5B polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir, NS3/4A protease inhibitor simeprevir, and NS5A inhibitor daclatasvir, as well as the ritonavir-boosted combination of NS3/4A protease inhibitor paritaprevir and NS5A inhibitor ombitasvir with NS5B polymerase inhibitor
Summary
The reduction of the HCV-related health burden in Europe remains a major task even after the approval of highly effective and well-tolerable, all-oral treatment options. Although lot of progress has been made in the field, the patchwork of diverse health systems, political systems, and economic potentials across the European continent still impedes the comprehensive implementation of prevention programs as well as high diagnosis and treatment rates. Although the iatrogenic HCV transmission was
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Hepatocellular carcinoma: a practical review for the surgical pathologist
2018, Diagnostic HistopathologyCitation Excerpt :In North America and Western Europe, viral hepatitis C infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. Prevalence rates of hepatitis C are thought to be between 1 and 3% in these regions, although this may be an underestimation of the true disease burden.14,15 Viral genotypes 1 and 3 are the most common in Western Europe, which means that many patients diagnosed with viral hepatitis are eligible for treatment with direct-acting antivirals and may achieve a sustained virologic response.
Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus and genotype distribution in immigrants crossing to Europe from North and sub-Saharan Africa
2016, Travel Medicine and Infectious DiseaseCitation Excerpt :Immigration has influenced the prevalence of HCV within the southern regions of the EU. Greece, Italy, France, and Spain have reported a higher level of HCV (2–7%) than Libya in North Africa [44,45]. Spatial geographic spots in the Netherlands and Germany (with large numbers of immigrants have also shown a higher rate of HCV (7%) than the other regions of the same countries [46].
Emergent predictors of hepatitis C infection among non-injection drug users
2018, Journal of Infection and Public HealthCitation Excerpt :In addition, other predictors of HCV infection, such as invasive medical procedures, tattooing/body piercing, and sharing sharp personal care objects, seem to increase the risk of virus transmission [10,11]. In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have rendered chronic HCV treatable, with reversal of liver disease [4]. With the availability of these new drugs, HCV could be eliminated within the next 15–20 years.
Impact of modern antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B and C on clinical outcomes of liver disease
2021, World Journal of GastroenterologySofosbuvir: Treatment of chronic hepatitis c and the main trends in patent protection
2019, International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics
Disclosures: No disclosures (G. Dultz); Consultancy for Abbvie, BMS, Gilead, Janssen, and Merck (S. Zeuzem).