title: [Hepatitis B and C: current therapy].
abstract: Treatment of acute viral hepatitis B is symptomatic, fulminant cases may require liver transplantation. In chronic hepatitis B interferon (IFN)-alpha will induce sustained response rates of 30-40%. Nucleoside analogues such as famciclovir or lamivudine appear to be promising for treatment in non-responders or cirrhotic and immunosuppressed patients. IFN-alpha may reduce the rate of chronic courses in acute hepatitis C infections. Chronic hepatitis C patients with elevated ALT activities, positive serum HCV RNA and portal or bridging fibrosis on biopsy are recommended for treatment with IFN-alpha. Sustained responses are observed in less than 20% of treated patients. Retreatment with IFN-alpha may be indicated in non-responders or in case of relapse. Combination therapy of IFN-alpha plus ribavirin may emerge as treatment of choice for patients with a relapse in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Gastroenterologie-Hepatologie, Krankenhaus Siegburg.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Bruch
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Höhner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000628:therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
vernacular_title: Hepatitis B und C: Aktuelle Therapie.