[Viral hepatitis A to E--diagnosis, clinical aspects and therapy]

Viral causes of acute or chronic hepatitis are the hepatitis A virus [HAV], the hepatitis B virus [HBV], the hepatitis C virus [HCV], the hepatitis delta virus [HDV], and the hepatitis E virus [HEV]. These viruses haven been characterized in great detail and can be detected by specific and sensitive serological or molecular assays. While HAV and HEV cause only acute hepatitis, infection with HBV, HCV or HDV frequently takes a chronic course. With time chronic viral hepatitis can progress to liver cirrhosis and its clinical sequelae as well as to hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Apart from prophylactic measures aimed at the prevention of these viral infections, for those chronically infected natural or recombinant alpha-interferon may be a therapeutic option with the potential to prevent the development of liver cirrhosis and HCC.