as our awareness of hepatitis c infection increases more and more patients are being diagnosed with this condition. current research includes diagnosis natural history treatment and vaccine development. diagnosis: more accurate tests are being developed to detect even smaller amounts of the virus. natural history: there is much we do not know about the natural history of chronic hcv. why do some people clear the virus spontaneously? what makes some people develop cirrhosis when others appear to have little liver damage? what predicts response to treatment or retreatment? treatment: new formulations of interferon are being developed in the hopes of improving response rates. in addition new agents are being tested in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. some of these agents like telaprevir inhibit protease enzymes that hcv needs in order to reproduce. vaccine development: scientists have not been able to develop an effective vaccine against hcv. this is partly due to the ability of the hcv to change (mutate) and evade the body's immune responses.
what is the current research and what is in the future for hepatitis c?