Micro-elimination of HCV as a possible therapeutic strategy: our experience and a review of literature

Authors

  • Ksenija Bojovic Clinic for Infectious and tropical diseases, Clinical Center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Jasmina Simonovic-Babic Clinic for Infectious and tropical diseases, Clinical Center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Zeljko Mijailovic Department of Infectious disease, Clinical Center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
  • Ivana Milosevic Clinic for Infectious and tropical diseases, Clinical Center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Maja Jovanovic Department of Infectious disease, Clinical Center Niš, Niš, Serbia
  • Maja Ruzic Department of Infectious disease, Clinical Center Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
  • Tatjana Cvejic Pasic Clinic for Gastroenterology, Clinical Center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Petar Svorcan Medical School, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Milena Petrovic Merck Sharp and Dohme d.o.o., Belgrade, Serbia
  • Jelena Jordovic Clinic for Infectious and tropical diseases, Clinical Center Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.11785

Keywords:

hepatitis C infection, micro-elimination, Serbia

Abstract

Background: Serbia has an intermediate estimated prevalence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection, approximately 1.13%, with hepatitis C remaining one of the leading causes of liver-related morbidity and mortality in Serbia with impaired quality of life and overwhelming cost of treating its complications As the availability of new treatment options and resources for screening remains limited, micro-elimination of CHC becomes a top priority.

Methods: Review of the available published data related to the clinical and epidemiological situation of the hepatitis C infection in Serbia, including the unpublished data from the databases of four major reference centres in Serbia (Clinical Center Serbia, Clinical Center Niš, Clinical Center Vojvodina and Clinical Center Kragujevac).

Results: Currently in Serbia, micro-elimination appears to be realistic in the patients with haemophilia, who represent a small, well-defined subpopulation, under constant monitoring by the healthcare system. Other feasible targets for micro-elimination of CHC infection in Serbia are patients on hemodialysis, prisoners and people who inject drugs.

Conclusions: Micro-elimination is feasible in Serbia, especially in the subpopulation of patients with haemophilia. This may represent an initial step towards achieving the WHO objective to eliminate hepatitis C infection by 2030.

JIDC February 2020 cover

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Published

2020-02-29

How to Cite

1.
Bojovic K, Simonovic-Babic J, Mijailovic Z, Milosevic I, Jovanovic M, Ruzic M, Cvejic Pasic T, Svorcan P, Petrovic M, Jordovic J (2020) Micro-elimination of HCV as a possible therapeutic strategy: our experience and a review of literature. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:117–124. doi: 10.3855/jidc.11785

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 02: February 2020

Section

Reviews

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