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The Importance of Treatment Not all hepatitis patients need to be treated. In hepatitis A and about 90% of cases of hepatitis B, the body will fight off the disease on its own. However, up to 70% of cases of hepatitis C become chronic. If left untreated, chronic hepatitis can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even liver failure. In fact, hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. Fortunately, there are treatments that can help. Treatment serves to keep the virus under control and may enable patients to enjoy a longer and healthier life. Patients who receive treatment early in the course of chronic hepatitis infections have a better chance of avoiding serious liver damage. The sooner you begin treatment after diagnosis—before the amount of virus in your blood gets too high—the better your chances are of having the treatment work. Click on an option below for information on treatment for the different types of hepatitis. Most hepatitis A infections are "acute." This means that the infection lasts for less than 6 months and your body is strong enough to rid your system of the virus without the help of medical treatment. Sometimes doctors prescribe medicine to treat the symptoms you may have, such as headache and nausea, and provide intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. Most patients recover at home. A common recommendation is to avoid alcohol, which, as a toxic substance, can weaken an already damaged liver. A vaccine is available for the prevention of hepatitis A. It is recommended for people who come into contact with an infected person, and for those traveling to a location with a high incidence of hepatitis A or unsanitary conditions that make its presence possible or likely. Fortunately, most adults can fight off a hepatitis B infection without treatment. However, in about 10% of cases, the disease develops into its chronic form. In the chronic form, hepatitis B can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure. Interferon is a protein made naturally by your body to boost your immune system and to regulate other cell functions. A manufactured form of interferon is used to treat hepatitis B. This treatment involves taking interferon by injection for about 4 months. Not all patients respond to interferon, and sometimes re-treatment is necessary. In clinical studies, 45% of patients who are treated for hepatitis B with INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection will have no evidence of the hepatitis virus in their blood over time. Even if interferon treatment does not eliminate all of the hepatitis virus, in many patients it reduces the amount of hepatitis virus in your system and leads to improvement in liver function and overall health. A vaccine is available for individuals who are routinely exposed to blood in their work or who live with a person who is infected with hepatitis B. See
INTRON® A
Therapy Hepatitis C is the most serious form of hepatitis. It develops into a chronic form in about half of infected patients. If left untreated, patients are placed at high risk of developing cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Liver failure due to hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States. If you have been infected with hepatitis C for 6 months or more, your doctor may initiate medical treatment to avoid the possibility of permanent liver damage. One approach to treating chronic hepatitis C is REBETRON™ Combination Therapy containing REBETOL® (Ribavirin, USP) Capsules and INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) Injection. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for initial treatment of patients with hepatitis C. It is also approved for use in hepatitis C patients whose illness reappears after initial treatment with interferon alone. Studies show that more patients with hepatitis C virus respond to REBETRON Combination Therapy than to INTRON® A alone. INTRON® A, a manufactured form of interferon, is used to treat hepatitis C as well as hepatitis B. Interferon is a protein made naturally by your body to boost your immune system and to regulate other cell functions. Generally, the recommended length of treatment with INTRON® A for hepatitis C is 18 to 24 months. This treatment doesn't eliminate the virus in all hepatitis C patients. Sometimes re-treatment is necessary. But many patients experience great improvement in the health and functioning of their liver, even if the virus has not been eliminated completely. See
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