[Prevention and therapy of viral hepatitis].
The hepatitis viruses A to E are biologically and clinically heterogeneous: hepatitis A and E are transmitted faecal-orally and never lead to chronic infection. In contrast, the other viruses-B, C, D-are transmitted parenterally and are the leading causes of chronic viral infections in humans worldwide. Highly efficient vaccines are available against hepatitis A and B. The therapeutic armamentarium for chronic hepatitis B and C has significantly expanded during the last several years. Two nucleoside analogues, lamivudine and adefovir, have been licensed for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B and can be used for patients in whom interferon would be contra-indicated such as decompensated cirrhotics. Standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C is a combination of a pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin, which can lead to sustained viral clearance in more than 50% of treatable patients. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis can be treated by liver transplantation which offers a 5-year-survival of greater than 80%.
Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Klinikum Grosshadern. Helmut.Diepolder@med2.med.uni-muenchen.de
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D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005858:Germany; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D007372:Interferons