Not everyone with hepatitis requires medical treatment. No medical treatment is needed for hepatitis A infections, which are acute and will yield to the body's efforts to fight the infection. Also, about 90 percent of adults can fight off an acute infection of hepatitis B without treatment.

Individuals who should receive treatment are those with chronic hepatitis B and C infections. If chronic hepatitis B or C infections are left untreated, the risk of developing more serious liver disease is great. Especially with chronic hepatitis C, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer are very real risks. Liver failure due to chronic hepatitis C is now the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Treatment can help prevent chronic infections from progressing to serious liver damage. Treatment serves to keep the virus under control, and may enable patients to enjoy a longer and better life. 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.

Can hepatitis be prevented?

Vaccines
Preventive vaccines for hepatitis A and B are available for people who know they are placing themselves at some risk, such as certain healthcare workers and those who plan to travel to areas of the world where hepatitis is endemic. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

What treatments are available?

Interferon
INTRON® A (Interferon alfa-2b, recombinant) for Injection is the only interferon approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of both chronic hepatitis B and C.

Interferon is a protein made naturally by your body to boost your immune system and regulate other cell functions. The interferon you will take is a manufactured form of this protein. It received the name "interferon" because it interferes with viral reproduction. Interferon acts to stimulate your immune system to launch a better attack on the hepatitis virus in your liver cells and also to protect your healthy liver cells from infection.

For more information about interferon treatment, see section, "INTRON® A Therapy."

Combination therapy
A new approach to treating chronic hepatitis C is a combination therapy of interferon (INTRON® A) plus an antiviral agent, ribavirin (REBETOL®). This treatment is now available for patients who have relapsed after treatment with interferon. In clinical studies, some patients experienced a loss of detectable hepatitis virus after re-treatment with the combination of interferon and ribavirin, called REBETRON^TM Combination Therapy (measured at 24 weeks after re-treatment).

For more information about combination therapy, see the section, "REBETRON^TM Combination Therapy."

Alternative therapies
Some people with hepatitis have benefited from homeopathy, herbs, vitamins, acupuncture, or special diets. You may wish to learn more about these options, but be sure to talk to your doctor before taking anything other than what he or she has prescribed for you.