Antiviral Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C: Current Update.
10.5124/jkma.2005.48.5.440
- Author:
Il Han SONG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Intern Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine and Hospital, Korea. ihsong21@dankook.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Chronic hepatitis B;
Chronic hepatitis C;
Antiviral treatment
- MeSH:
Adenosine Monophosphate;
Antiviral Agents;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular;
Consensus;
Fibrosis;
Hepatitis;
Hepatitis B;
Hepatitis B, Chronic*;
Hepatitis C, Chronic;
Hepatitis, Chronic*;
Humans;
Insurance;
Interferon-alpha;
Lamivudine;
Motivation;
Ribavirin
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2005;48(5):440-447
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The treatment of chronic viral hepatitis is aimed to prevent the progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, eventually increasing the survival of the patients through biochemical, virological, and histological improvement. Recently, international and domestic consensus on management guidelines for chronic viral hepatitis B and C have been announced and recommended. Interferon-alpha, lamivudine, or adefovir dipivoxil, approved by FDA, can be used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B according to the patient and virus characteristics, while the internationally standardized antiviral regimen for chronic hepatitis C is a combination therapy of pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin. Among these antiviral agents, adefovir dipivoxil, a nucleoside analogue of adenosine monophosphate, is known to be effective in treatment of chronic hepatitis B with the lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant. The antiviral treatment of chronic viral hepatitis can be individualized to get the maximal treatment effect in a cost-effective manner through taking consideration of the patient status, side effects of antiviral agents, administration route, insurance criteria, and the patient' motivation toward medical treatment.
