The role of antiviral agents in the management of viral hepatitis.

Antiviral drugs have an established role in the management of selected patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Of the hepatitis viruses (A to E), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) (also called delta virus) cause chronic hepatitis with the potential for development of cirrhosis and its complications, including primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HDV is seen only in the context of HBV infection and is quite rare in most countries, so the majority of physicians will see few, if any, cases of chronic HDV infection. This review will focus on the management of HBV and HCV infection and the role for antiviral therapy in the treatment and prevention of liver disease.