Treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) is still disappointing, and both are the major causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Interferon and lamivudine are the registered drugs for chronic HBV but are scarcely effective on HBeAg-negative patients, and resistance due to virus mutation is the rule with lamivudine. Interferon and ribavirine represent the standard treatment for chronic HCV but less than the half of the infected population is eligible for this treatment and less of the half of treated patients will experience a sustained response. No single new drug to date has shown the potential to overcome this dismal picture. Combined strategies are thus the currently most available approach to improve the response rate of chronic HBV and HCV infection, with a subsequent decrease in the number of patients developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combination of thymosin alpha 1 with interferon or antiviral agents is currently the most promising option, but nontoxic immunomodulants, such as oral MIMP, should be explored. This review focuses on the difficulties with current therapy and the rationale for use of combination therapy with thymosin α1 for both HBV and HCV therapies. © 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Rasi, G., Pierimarchi, P., SINIBALDI VALLEBONA, P., Colella, F., Garaci, E. (2003). Combination therapy in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. In International Immunopharmacology (pp.1169-1176) [10.1016/S1567-5769(03)00012-2].

Combination therapy in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

RASI, GUIDO;SINIBALDI VALLEBONA, PAOLA;GARACI, ENRICO
2003-01-01

Abstract

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) is still disappointing, and both are the major causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Interferon and lamivudine are the registered drugs for chronic HBV but are scarcely effective on HBeAg-negative patients, and resistance due to virus mutation is the rule with lamivudine. Interferon and ribavirine represent the standard treatment for chronic HCV but less than the half of the infected population is eligible for this treatment and less of the half of treated patients will experience a sustained response. No single new drug to date has shown the potential to overcome this dismal picture. Combined strategies are thus the currently most available approach to improve the response rate of chronic HBV and HCV infection, with a subsequent decrease in the number of patients developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Combination of thymosin alpha 1 with interferon or antiviral agents is currently the most promising option, but nontoxic immunomodulants, such as oral MIMP, should be explored. This review focuses on the difficulties with current therapy and the rationale for use of combination therapy with thymosin α1 for both HBV and HCV therapies. © 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Combination therapy in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma
Rilevanza internazionale
2003
Settore MED/07 - MICROBIOLOGIA E MICROBIOLOGIA CLINICA
English
Chronic viral hepatitis; Combination therapy with thymosin α1; Hepatocellular carcinoma
Intervento a convegno
Rasi, G., Pierimarchi, P., SINIBALDI VALLEBONA, P., Colella, F., Garaci, E. (2003). Combination therapy in the treatment of chronic viral hepatitis and prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma. In International Immunopharmacology (pp.1169-1176) [10.1016/S1567-5769(03)00012-2].
Rasi, G; Pierimarchi, P; SINIBALDI VALLEBONA, P; Colella, F; Garaci, E
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/52019
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