title: [Hepatitis: associated diseases. Risk groups -- prevention -- treatment].
abstract: Active vaccination against HBV-infection results in a very high protection rate. Therefore, all persons at risk should be vaccinated. Acute HBV-infection seems to progress to chronicity in a minority of adults. Unfortunately, treatment of chronic HBV-infection with interferon and Lamivudine is effective only in about 40% of patients, leading to a complete virus elimination. However, relapse-rates are high. Additionally, mutant viruses arise in the case of Lamivudine treatment (YMDD-mutants). Interestingly, Adefovir, a new nucleoside analogue, seems not to induce virus-mutants, at least after a therapy of 48 weeks. HBV-DNA declines rapidly, transaminases normalize in more than 2/3 of the patients, liver histology improves. As mentioned, active vaccination against HBV is very effective in preventing the infection. Unfortunately, this is not the case in HCV-infection. So far, the development of an HCV-vaccine is mainly hampered due to the variability of the HCV (RNA) virus. Untreated, more than 2/3 of the HCV-infected patients with acute HCV-positive hepatitis develop chronicity. Chronic hepatitis C can be treated preferably with a combination therapy (pegylated interferons + Ribavirin). Sustained response rates average 50 per cent (and more). However, treatment of non-responders as well as the treatment of relapsers remain an unresolved problem.
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D063065:Organophosphonates; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D012008:Recurrence; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D063065:Organophosphonates; D012367:RNA, Viral; D019259:Lamivudine; D012254:Ribavirin; C053001:adefovir; D007372:Interferons; D000225:Adenine