title: Effects of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus replication on the actions of interferon.
abstract: Many patients chronically infected with hepatitis B or C do not respond to interferon therapy. For hepatitis B infections it is now clear that a viral factor down regulates the cells ability to respond to interferon and hence prevents effective therapy in some patients. In chronic hepatitis C infections, interferon therapy leads to the selection of interferon-resistant viral strains, but the mechanism of this resistance is not yet known.
authors.affiliation: St Mary's Hospital, Department of Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000254:growth & development; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000254:growth & development; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D007372:Interferons