Interní Med. 2007; 9(5): 217-220
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are among the most frequent viral infections of man and represent a major global public health problem. Hepatitis B virus- and HCV-related chronic hepatitis are the main causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma which are responsible for a high rate of mortality. End-stage HBV- and HCV-related liver diseases are the main causes of liver transplantation. Six potent drugs are already approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis B in the United States and some countries in Western Europe - pegylated interferon alfa-2a, conventional interferon alfa, lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir and telbivudine. Clevudine in approved only in South Korea. The standard of chronic hepatitis C is combination of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin globally.
Published: June 21, 2007 Show citation