J Korean Med Assoc.  2005 May;48(5):440-447. 10.5124/jkma.2005.48.5.440.

Antiviral Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B and C: Current Update

• Song IH

• KMID: 2183548
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2005.48.5.440

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.

Keyword

Chronic hepatitis B; Chronic hepatitis C; Antiviral treatment

MeSH Terms

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
Adenosine Monophosphate
Antiviral Agents
Interferon-alpha
Lamivudine
Ribavirin

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