Chronic viral hepatitis: factors influencing response to alpha interferon

ABSTRACT

Viral hepatitis is a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality, both from acute infection and its chronic sequelae. Hepatitis B virus [HBV], hepatitis D virus [HDV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] are the most important in terms of causing major morbidity and mortality throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization [WHO] estimates, 2.000 million people have been infected by HBV worldwide. About 5% of all HBsAg carriers are estimated to be infected with HDV. Although not as prevalent as HBV infection in terms of worldwide figures, HCV more often results in chronic hepatitis [40 - 60% of post transfusion hepatitis patients], progressing to cirrhosis in 20% of cases and sometimes to hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, a new flavivirus hepatitis G virus [HGV] has been identified as an uncommon cause of post transfusion hepatitis, which has infected 1.5% of blood donors