[Prognosis and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis]

Prognosis of chronic viral hepatitis can be severe. One have to keep in mind the possibility of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Thanks to anatomopathological and immunological tests, it is possible nowadays to evaluate the extent of chronic viral hepatitis and its prognosis. The most efficient therapies are actually the antiviral drugs (vidarabine, interferon): against chronic viral hepatitis B: vidarabine or interferon preceded by a cure of corticoids lead to about 35% of H Be seroconversion--against chronic viral hepatitis B-Delta: interferon Has a suppressive effect in about 50% of the cases with an inevitable relapse when the treatment is stopped--against chronic viral hepatitis C: interferon is efficient in about 50% of the case when given for six months. The high proportion of relapse justified some treatments expended up to 12 or 18 months.