Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 4

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 is predominantly found in the Middle East and North Africa. Because most of the large randomized controlled trials of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis C were conducted in North America and Europe, little is known about management of patients with this particular genotype. Based on the available data, sustained virological response rates to interferon-based therapies appear to be intermediate between the relatively resistant HCV genotype I and the readily responsive genotypes 2 and 3. Several large prospective studies of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy, the current gold-standard treatment, have recently been completed and will be reviewed. (C) 2004 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pry Ltd.