 [ Symptoms ] what are the goals of therapy for hepatitis c virus [ Disease ] the ultimate goals of antiviral therapy are to eliminate hepatitis c virus improve or normalize the liver tests and histology microscopic appearance prevent progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer prolong survival and improve the quality of life only a sustained virologic response provides the possibility of achieving all of the ultimate goals since most patients who have a sustained viruolgic response will remain in remission indefinitely the rest of the patients non responders partial responders and relapsers may show improvement in blood tests with or without relief of symptoms