[Medical treatment of chronic viral hepatitis]

alpha-interferon and vidarabine monophosphate are currently available for the treatment of chronic active hepatitis B. Treatment is indicated in patients with high transaminase levels, evidence of replicating virus and histological inflammation. Interferon or vidarabine suppress viral replication and normalize transaminase activity in 30 to 40% of the patients. The main predictive factors of response to therapy are a high transaminase level, a low replication level, and the absence of immunodepression. The response is usually sustained and the Ag HBs to anti-HBs seroconversion occurs a few years after treatment. No efficacious treatment is still available in patients with chronic hepatitis D. Standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C with alpha-interferon (3 millions units 3 times a week during 6 months) induces a complete response in only 15% of the patients. New modalities of interferon therapy and associated treatment are currently evaluated.