Genotype 3-hepatitis C virus' last line of defense

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of liver disease globally, affecting approximately 71 million people. The majority of them are infected with genotype (GT) 1 but infections with GT3 are second in frequency. For many years, GT3 was considered to be less pathogenic compared to other GTs in the HCV family due to its favorable response to interferon (IFN)-based regimen. However, the growing evidence of a higher rate of steatosis, more rapid progression of liver fibrosis, and lower efficacy of antiviral treatment compared to infection with other HCV GTs has changed this conviction. This review presents the specifics of the course of GT3 infection and the development of therapeutic options for GT3-infected patients in the era of direct-acting antivirals (DAA). The way from a standard of care therapy with pegylated IFN-alpha (pegIFN alpha) and ribavirin (RBV) through a triple combination of pegIFN alpha + RBV and DAA to the highly potent IFN-free pangenotypic DAA regimens is discussed along with some treatment options which appeared to be dead ends. Although the implementation of highly effective pangenotypic regimens is the most recent stage of revolution in the treatment of GT3 infection, there is still room for improvement, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis and those who fail to respond to DAA therapies, particularly those containing inhibitors of HCV nonstructural protein 5A.

Automated summary

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), particularly genotype 3 (GT3), can result in higher rates of steatosis, faster progression of liver fibrosis, and lower efficacy of antiviral treatment compared to other HCV genotypes. The treatment options have evolved from interferon-based regimens to highly potent interferon-free pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAA), but there is still room for improvement, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis and those who fail to respond to DAA therapies.