STUDIES OF THE NATURAL HISTORY AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B

感染B型肝炎病毒是导致肝脏疾病的主要原因 在世界范围内，占慢性肝病和肝硬化的5-10%， 美国的安全有效的疫苗现在可用于 预防B型肝炎。然而，一旦这种疾病发生， 发生的不令人满意。α干扰素是第一个 一种对这种疾病有效的药物， 1993年，在美国。许可证的基础是，在 部分，在美国国立卫生研究院肝病科进行的研究。 不幸的是，α干扰素仅对三分之一的患者有效 慢性B型肝炎及其在非典型性乙型肝炎中的作用 疾病仍不清楚。肝病科目前的活动 重点是了解慢性HBV的免疫发病机制， 感染和开发更好的治疗方法， 后果

Infection with hepatitis B virus is a major cause of liver disease worldwide and accounts for 5-10% of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the United States. Safe and effective vaccines are now available for prevention of hepatitis B. However, therapies for the disease once it has occurred are unsatisfactory. Alpha interferon was the first antiviral agent shown to be effective in this disease and was licensed for this indication in the United States in 1993. The bases for licensure were, in part, studies conducted in the Liver Diseases Section of the NIH. Unfortunately, alpha interferon is effective in only one-third of patients with typical chronic hepatitis B and its role in atypical forms of this disease remain unclear. Current activities in the Liver Diseases Section are focused on understanding the immunopathogenesis of chronic HBV infection and developing better therapies to prevent in longterm consequences.