title: Therapeutic advances in the management of hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
abstract: Until recently, interferon monotherapy has been the only available therapeutic option for patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Lamivudine has emerged as another effective first-line therapy for chronic hepatitis B as well as a beneficial treatment option for patients with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Viral resistance with long-term lamivudine therapy remains a major concern but new data continue to show benefits despite the development of YMDD mutations. Combination therapy with ribavirin and pegylated interferon-alpha has revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. The rate of sustained virological response can now be expected to be as high as nearly 50% for genotype 1 and 80% for non-1 genotypes of hepatitis C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000077595:Famciclovir; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019259:Lamivudine; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D012254:Ribavirin; D000077595:Famciclovir