Author/Editor		Štepec, Srečo
Title		Advances in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis
Type		članek
Source		Gastroenterolog
Vol. and No.		Letnik 7, št. 1
Publication year		2003
Volume		str. 15-8
Language		eng
Abstract		Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections are major worldwide diseases affecting an estimated 600 million individuals and, although antiviral therapy advances have been made, they remain inadequate. Until now, interferon alfa and lamivudine were the only two approved treatments for chronic hepatitis B. The recommended dose of interferon alfa is 5MU daily or lOMU thrice weekly for 16 - 24 weeks. A positive response can be achieved in 25 - 40%. Lamivudine (100 mg/day) led to HBe seroconversion in 15 - 20% of patients. It is indicated if interferon is contraindicated, proves to be ineffective or poorly tolerated. At least 85% of infected individuals with hepatitis C virus develop chronic hepatitis and 20 - 30% of those eventually progress to liver cirrhosis over 20 - 30 years. AIl patients with chronic hepatitis C are potential candidates for antiviral therapy. The current recommendation is to use combination therapy with pegylated interferons and ribavirin.
Descriptors		HEPATITIS B HEPATITIS C HEPATITIS, CHRONIC ACTIVE INTERFERONS LAMIVUDINE