PECULIARITIES OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF INFECTION CAUSED BY HEPATITIS C VIRUS. Review

Abstract

Relevance. The goal of the WHO Global Strategy on Hepatitis Agents, in particular hepatitis C virus, is to identify infected people early for treatment and prevention of chronic infection. Early detection and treatment of this infection with direct antiviral drugs significantly reduces the incidence of liver cirrhosis and subsequent deaths. Development of an effective hepatitis C vaccine that can primarily protect at-risk individuals is ongoing. Objective: to determine the main approaches for the treatment and prevention of hepatitis C, proposed by WHO, which can lead to the prevention of the formation of chronic forms of the disease and the development of hepatocarcinoma. Methods. Analysis of publications from scientometric databases PubMed, Google Scolar, Cohrane Database by keywords. Search depth is 10 years (2011–2021). Results. Analysis of literature sources about the peculiarities of the treatment of C viral hepatitis showed the feasibility of using drugs with direct antiviral action. Selection of such drugs in order the structural features of the pathogen and specificity of inhibition of the stages of viral reproduction process is discussed and justified. The specificity of the action of these drugs and the main targets of their application are considered. Today, WHO recommends the using of thirteen antiviral drugs with direct action. Two preparations are inhibitors of viral polymerase and the other eleven drugs inhibit of the viral proteases activity. Two direct-acting drugs with a different mechanism of activity are used in the therapeutic schemes. The genotype of the virus, the age and state of health of the patients, especially liver state, have to be considered during the treatment process. This treatment allows to get a positive result without using of interferon, which can cause some complication. Prospects with using new technologies for the creation of effective drugs for the specific prevention of hepatitis C, such as recombinant vaccines, nanovaccines, mRNA containing modified vaccines are considered. Such vaccines will allow to provide specific prophylaxis, especially among people from risk groups, including those with immunodeficiency states. Conclusions. The application of the global strategy proposed by WHO such as early detection and treatment of acute hepatitis C for prevention of the development of chronic forms will lead to a decrease in the incidence of hepatitis in the world.