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[Chronic viral hepatitis: diagnosis and treatment]
1I Divisione Medicina Generale, Complesso Ospedaliero San Giovanni-Addolorata, Roma.
La Clinica Terapeutica
|March 1, 1996
Summary
Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) cause chronic hepatitis, diagnosed via serologic tests and viral DNA/RNA detection. Interferon shows promise, but liver transplants and ribavirin have yielded limited success.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Immunology
Context:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are primary causes of chronic hepatitis.
- Hepatitis D virus (HDV) requires HBV for replication, while Hepatitis A (HAV) and E (HEV) do not cause chronic infections.
- The etiology of chronic hepatitis is diverse and geographically variable, with distinctions between persistent and active forms being clinically fluid.
Purpose:
- To review the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis.
- To evaluate the efficacy of current therapeutic strategies, including interferon, liver transplantation, and antiviral agents.
Summary:
- Chronic hepatitis is predominantly caused by HBV and HCV, with HDV acting as a dependent co-infecting agent.
- Diagnosis relies on serological markers and molecular detection of HBV DNA and HCV RNA.
- Interferon therapy offers approximately 50% efficacy for HBV, HCV, and HDV infections, though long-term treatment is often required for HDV.
Impact:
- Interferon remains a key therapeutic option for chronic viral hepatitis, achieving moderate success rates.
- Liver transplantation results for chronic hepatitis are currently disappointing.
- Further research is needed to optimize treatment for non-responders and explore novel antiviral therapies.