VOLUME 6 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2016 ) > List of Articles
Hiroshi Yatsuhashi
Citation Information : Yatsuhashi H. Past, Present, and Future of Viral Hepatitis C in Japan. Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol 2016; 6 (1):49-51.
DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1166
License: CC BY-NC 4.0
Published Online: 01-12-2017
Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2016; The Author(s).
Of all the industrialized countries of the world, Japan has the highest rate of hepatitis C. It also has 1 of the oldest and most varied histories of hepatitis C in the world among the industrialized modern nations. Hepatitis C and its complications are the leading cause of liver cancer in Japan. Japan has the highest rate of liver cancer among the industrialized countries. From 2004 to 2014, PegIFN/RBV treatment was the mainstream of hepatitis C treatment. In 2014, the first interferon-free therapy was approved in Japan. Subsequently, other interferon-free therapies have been approved. Hepatitis C virus disinfection in hepatitis C patients in Japan has become possible with a probability of 96% or more.