Article Abstract:
Evidence is mounting that interferon-alpha may be both effective and affordable in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Three studies provide support for this optimistic outlook. A 1 to 7.6-year follow-up study on 80 patients who had a sustained response to therapy after 6 months found that the response was maintained in the majority of the patients. Another analysis indicates that 6 months of interferon-alpha therapy for mild chronic hepatitis C is beneficial and cost effective. The third supports the advantages and cost-effectiveness of 12 months of therapy compared to 6 months, and no treatment.
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Article Abstract:
The authors discuss the current day situation of hepatitis B viral infection, the leading cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis in the world. Hepatitis B infection is especially widespread in southeast Asia, China, and Africa, where it there are areas in which the infection rate is nearly 10% of the population. About 1.25 million people in North America and Europe are infected. treatment was once limited to interferon-alfa, but advances have been made in the field of nucleoside analogues such as lamivudine, which is effective to one degree or another in almost every patient.
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Article Abstract:
Interferon-alpha may prevent the re-occurrence of liver cancer caused by hepatitis C in patients who had the initial tumor surgically removed. In a study of 30 patients, the cancer recurred in 5 of the 15 who took interferon-alpha and in 12 of the 15 who did not take interferon-alpha.
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