Linked Life Data

17958644

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/17958644

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-10-25
pubmed:abstractText
Despite recent advances in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis, therapy of chronic hepatitis D is not yet satisfactory. The only option currently available is interferon-alpha (IFN), whose efficacy is related to the dose and duration of treatment. However, the rate of sustained hepatitis D virus (HDV) clearance after a 1-year course with high doses of standard IFN is low. Better results have recently been reported with pegylated IFN both in IFN-naïve and in previous nonresponders to standard IFN, suggesting the use of pegylated IFN as a first-line therapy in chronic hepatitis D. Nucleoside analogues that inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) are ineffective against HDV and combination therapy with lamivudine or ribavirin has not shown significant advantages over monotherapy with either standard or pegylated IFN. Because the ultimate goal of treatment is eradication of both HDV and HBV, in responders IFN therapy should be continued as long as possible until the loss of hepatitis B surface antigen, adjusting the dose to patient tolerance. However, because side-effects are common, continuous monitoring is mandatory. Although the first results obtained with pegylated IFN have been encouraging, the rate of sustained virological response is still low and the rate of relapse high, emphasizing the need for developing novel classes of antivirals specifically interfering with the life cycle of this unique virus.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
1352-0504
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
14 Suppl 1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
58-63
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Treatment of chronic hepatitis D.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Policlinico Universitario, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy. pfarci@niaid.nih.gov
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review