Cirrhosis - Treatment

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Other drugs under investigation include vaccines, genetic therapies known as antisense oligonucleotides or monoclonal antibodies, and drugs that will help prevent or reduce progression of liver scarring or progression to liver cancer. Even if successful, none of these drugs will be available for some years.

Of interest are studies using phlebotomy (which is simply drawing blood) to reduce iron levels. In one study, maintenance therapy with this procedure reduced liver inflammation and possible slowed progression of cirrhosis.

Treatments for Chronic Hepatitis B

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and the phrase resoundingly holds true in the case of Hepatitis B. Today, a vaccine against HBV is available. It can prevent hepatitis B and, therefore, also prevent liver cancer. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommend that all babies born in the United States receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth.

Five drugs are currently approved in the United States for treatment of chronic hepatitis B:

• Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys)
• Interferon-alfa-2b (Intron)
• Adefovir (Hepsera)
• Lamivudine (Epivir)
• Entecavir (Baraclude)

These drugs block the replication of HBV in the body. Some also help boost the immune system. A doctor will decide which drug to prescribe based on a patient’s age, disease severity, and other factors. Each drug has various advantages and disadvantages in terms of cost, efficacy, side effects, and likelihood of drug resistance. A combination of drugs may also be prescribed.

Peginterferon alfa-2a. Peginterferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) was approved in 2005 for treatment of chronic hepatitis B. (Peginterferon is also called pegylated interferon.) The drug was previously approved in 2002 for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Pegasys prevents the hepatitis B virus from replicating and also helps boost the immune system. It is given as a weekly injection. Peginterferon is sometimes prescribed in combination with lamivudine (Epivir).