The paper presents the epidemiology of HCV infections in the world and in Poland and the current methods of treatment of chronic viral hepatitis C. The currently accepted therapeutic recommendations and the Polish standard in this field are discussed. In view of many recent reports, rationalization of indications and individualization of agement according, among others, to viral parameters(genotype, HCV RNA in week 12 of treatment) are crucial in improvement of treatment efficacy. Considerable expectations are associated with the introduction of new, pegylated forms of alfa interferon, which, in combination with ribavirin give favorable, sustained therapeutic effect in over 60% of patients. Their use has become the current treatment standard in the cases of chronic hepatitis C. The paper presents characterization of pharmacokinetics of two available pegylated interferon preparations, as well as the results of the most important clinical studies assessing their safety and effectiveness.

Keywords: pegylated interferon, hepatitis C virus (HCV), ribavirin