title: Chronic viral hepatitis.
abstract: Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C are spread parenterally. Chronic hepatitis C is fast becoming the leading indication for liver transplantation. Most infected patients go on to develop chronic hepatitis, with approximately 20% developing liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma after 20 years. Standard treatment now is with a combination of alpha-interferon and ribavirin, which is successful in up to 40% of patients. A vaccine is still a remote possibility and prevention remains all-important. Despite having a successful vaccine, chronic hepatitis B remains an important cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatments for active hepatitis include alpha-interferon and the newer nucleoside analogues such as lamivudine and adefovir. In patients undergoing liver transplantation, recurrence of hepatitis B in the graft can be reduced with a combination of hepatitis B immunoglobulin and these nucleoside analogues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha