title: Hepatitis vaccines.
abstract: The past two decades have seen a series of breakthroughs in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of viral hepatitis. Developed countries have an increasing number of adults who are susceptible to hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. The licensing of an effective hepatitis A vaccine presents new opportunities for prevention in persons at risk for HAV infection. Hepatitis B virus infection is an important cause of chronic liver disease throughout the world. Although a hepatitis B vaccine has been available in the United States for 15 years, recommendations for its use have undergone changes. Report of the discovery of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 1989 has led to marked decrease in the risk of transfusion-transmitted viral hepatitis. HCV infection, however, remains a common cause of chronic liver disease, and a hepatitis C vaccine is needed to prevent the consequences of the disease. Basic research into the hepatitis C viral genome has elucidated some of the obstacles in the way of hepatitis C vaccine development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Katkov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated / Q000276:immunology; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines