During the International Liver Congress 2017 (EASL, Amsterdam, 19-23 April 2017), important results on the treatment of viral hepatitis C were presented. In particular the outcome of large real world cohorts were of high relevance. The most important studies are summarized in this issue showing that treatment can be further optimised.
Although treatment of hepatitis C is already very effective, results will still become better in the near future with newer antivirals: treatment will become pangenotypic and the need to add ribavirin will be further dimininished. In addition, difficult to treat patient populations like renal insufficiency will become more easy to treat. Also younger patients (children and adolescents) and those with acute hepatitis C will have access to therapy.
The HCV-train rides on, making the impossible possible, i.e. a cure for all. Now the challenge is not to treat hepatitis C, but to eradicate the disease.
Best Regards
Rob de Knegt
Dr. Rob de Knegt
Biography
Rob de Knegt (1961) studied medicine at the Erasmus MC Rotterdam (graduation 1987). Subsequently he worked on his thesis “ Hepatic encephalopathy’. In 1991 he started his clinical training: first internal medicine (UMC Leiden, 1991-1995) and later gastroenterology and hepatology (UMC Groningen, 1996-1999). Untill 2003 he worked there as a staff member; in 2003 he changed his position to the Erasmus Medical Center.
Currently his main specialty is ‘Hepatology, including Liver transplantation’. Within this field viral hepatitis is the main focus. In addition he introduced abdominal sonography for gastroenterologists/hepatologists in the Netherlands, and has developed a full size abdominal sonography programme at the outpatient clinic, offering all techniques including elastography and contrast enhanced ultrasound.
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