BACKGROUND: The availability of novel direct-acting antivirals(DAAs) represents a new era of curative hepatitis C virus(HCV) treatment, with over 95% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 achieving sustained virological response(SVR). Nevertheless, the majority of patients globally are unable to access these treatments because of cost and infrastructure constraints and, thus, remain untreated and uncured.DATA SOURCE: Relevant articles of peginterferon(Peg IFN)-based treatments in HCV and sofosbuvir-based treatments, simeprevir, daclatasvir/asunaprevir, ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir/ombitasvir/dasabuvir, and grazoprevir/elbasvir, were searched in Pub Med database, including general population and special population.RESULTS: Peg IFN in combination with ribavirin remains an important and relevant option for some patients, achieving SVR rates of up to 79% in genotype 1 and 89% in genotype 2 or 3 infections, which increases for patients with favorable IL28 B genotypes. Triple therapy of DAA plus Peg IFN/ribavirin is effective in treating difficult-to-cure patients infected with HCV genotype 3 or with resistance-associated variants. Owing to its long history in HCV management, the efficacy, tolerability and long-term outcomes associated with Peg IFN alfa-2a are well established and have been validated in largescale studies and in clinical practice for many populations. Furthermore, emerging data show that IFN-induced SVR is associated with lower incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma compared with DAAs. On the contrary, novel DAAs have yet to be studied in special populations, and long-term outcomes, particularly tumor development and recurrence in patients with cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma, and reactivation of HBV in dually infected patients, are still unclear.CONCLUSION: In this interferon-free era, Peg IFN-based regimens remain a safe and effective option for selected HCV patients. BACKGROUND: The availability of novel direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) represents a new era of curative hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, with over 95% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1 only sustain virological response (SVR). Nevertheless, the majority of patients globally are unable to access these treatments because of cost and infrastructure constraints and, thus, remain untreated and uncured. DATA SOURCE: Relevant articles of peginterferon (Peg IFN) -based treatments in HCV and sofosbuvir-based treatments, simeprevir, daclatasvir / asunaprevir, ritonavir-boosted paritaprevir / ombitasvir / dasabuvir, and grazoprevir / elbasvir, were searched in Pub Med database, including general population and special population .RESULTS: Peg IFN in combination with ribavirin remains an important and relevant option for some patients, achieving SVR rates of up to 79% in genotype 1 and 89% in genotype 2 or 3 infections, which increases for patients with favorable IL28 B genotypes. Triple therapy of DAA plus Peg IFN / ribavirin is effective for treating difficult-to-cure patients infected with HCV genotype 3 or with resistance-associated variants. Owing to its long history in HCV management, the efficacy, tolerability and long-term outcomes associated with Peg IFN alfa-2a are well established and have been validated in largescale studies and in clinical practice for many populations. Furthermore, emerging data show that IFN-induced SVR is associated with lower incidences of hepatocellular carcinoma compared with DAAs. On the contrary, novel DAAs have yet to be studied in special populations, and long-term outcomes, particularly tumor development and recurrence in patients with cirrhosis and / or hepatocellular carcinoma, and reactivation of HBV in dually infected patients, are still unclear. CONCLUSION: In this interferon-free era , Peg IFN-based regimens remain a safe and effective option for selected HCV patients.