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[Why are not all patients with chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus treated?].

AIMS
To analyze the prevalence of patients with chronic liver disease associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) not undergoing antiviral treatment and the reasons for which this treatment was not indicated.


PATIENTS AND METHODS
718 patients with HCV infection referred for therapeutic evaluation between January 1990 and January 1998. Demographic, clinical, biological and histological variables were prospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups: treated and untreated.


RESULTS
393 patients were treated and in 325 patients antiviral treatment was not considered to be indicated. The most frequent reasons for not starting therapy were advanced age, the presence of decompensated cirrhosis and the patients' refusal to undergo antiviral treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
A broad subgroup of patients with chronic liver disease associated with HCV do not receive antiviral treatment. This is related with: a) patients' advanced age at diagnosis, b) diagnosis at the advanced stages of the disease, and c) patients' refusal to undergo such treatment after being informed of its potential risks and benefits.