[Treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Part 1: Critical overview of current results of studies].
OBJECTIVE
Critical appraisal of presently available results of studies on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B.
Even the controlled studies on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B carried out in recent years, in particular involving the use of interferons, possibly in combination with glucocorticosteroids, real methodological shortcomings that, in part, are due to the characteristics of chronic hepatitis, such as variations in its evolution, inadequate information provided by individual evolution-related parameters and failure to take account of patient variables. Moreover, the spontaneous evolution of the disease is difficult to predict, and a definitive assessment of the results of treatment always requires longterm follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the shortcomings of the individual studies, treatment with interferon represents a great advance in the therapy of chronic hepatitis B. However, the high percentage of treatment failures makes the continued search for new therapeutic modalities necessary.
Eisenburg
J
J
Interne Abteilung, Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder, München.
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007372:Interferons