title: [HCV-HBV infection].
abstract: Chronic infection of hepatitis C (HCV) and B virus (HBV) frequently causes viral hepatitis. Patients with chronic viral hepatitis are at risk for liver cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. In patients with chronic hepatitis C, the most effective therapy is elimination of HCV with interferon (IFN). The most effective initial IFN therapy is the combination of pegylated IFN alpha-2b plus ribavirin. Forty-eight weeks of this combination therapy produces sustained viral response rates of approximately 50%. Moreover, several reports showed that long-term IFN therapy also reduced the risk of liver carcinogenesis. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe antibodies suppresses viral replication and attenuates the hepatitis. Twenty-four weeks of IFN therapy produces HBeAg seroconversion rates approximately 30%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Molecular Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University.
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chayama
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b