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Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis with Interferon-α

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Interferons

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Abstract

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) is probably the most common cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer in the world. Both viruses are able to mutate quite efficiently under an immune pressure by the host or in response to antiviral therapy. These mechanisms are probably responsible for both the insufficient clearance of these viruses after infection by the host and also for the as yet insufficient success rates of antiviral therapy. Interferon-α is currently the standard therapy for chronic HBV and HCV infections. Since long-term success rates, defined as the complete clearance of the virus, range only between 10% and 50% depending on various factors in both viral infections, further improvement in antiviral therapy is urgently needed. This review analyzes the current response rates to interferon-α therapy in chronic hepatitis B, C, and D and discusses the limitations and problems of this therapy. Since the success rate is limited and the therapy may be associated with side effects, special emphasis must be placed on an optimal selection of patients. Table 1 summarizes the major aspects of interferon therapy in different types of chronic viral hepatitis.

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Authors
  1. C. Niederau
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  2. T. Heintges
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  3. F. Hensel
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  4. W. Petry
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  5. Ch. Niederau
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  6. D. Häussinger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Carlo Aul  & Wolfgang Schneider  & 

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© 1997 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Niederau, C., Heintges, T., Hensel, F., Petry, W., Niederau, C., Häussinger, D. (1997). Treatment of Chronic Viral Hepatitis with Interferon-α. In: Aul, C., Schneider, W. (eds) Interferons. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60411-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-60411-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-61051-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-60411-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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