Chronic infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) may lead to hepatic fibrosis and eventually
cirrhosis, at which stage, patients have a substantial risk of liver failure, hepatocellular
carcinoma (HCC) and liver-related death. Moreover, HCV infection is associated with
several extrahepatic manifestations which impact the quality of life and increase the non-
liver-related mortality rate. For patients with compensated liver disease, interferon (IFN)-
based antiviral therapy has been a treatment option for over two decades. Long-term follow …