Can viral hepatitis be cured?

Viral hepatitis is caused by many types of viral hepatitis and is a contagious disease that can cause symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, and pain in the liver area. Some patients may become virilized or even develop cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other diseases.

1. General treatment

During the active stage of acute hepatitis and chronic hepatitis, hospitalization, bed rest, proper nutrition, and guaranteed supply of calories, protein, and vitamins are required. Alcohol is strictly prohibited, and activities should be gradually increased during the recovery period. During the dormant period of chronic hepatitis, you can do work within your ability. For severe hepatitis, you must stay in bed and try to reduce the protein in your diet, while ensuring calories and vitamins. You can receive transfusions of serum albumin or fresh plasma to maintain a stable water and electrolyte balance.

2. Antiviral treatment

Acute hepatitis generally does not require antiviral treatment. Early use of interferon is recommended only in acute hepatitis C to prevent chronicity, while chronic viral hepatitis requires antiviral treatment. ① Interferon: Recombinant DNA leukocyte interferon (IFN-α) can inhibit the replication of HBV. Only 30% to 50% of patients achieve lasting effects after intramuscular injection every other day for 6 consecutive months. The drug of choice for hepatitis C is interferon, which can be used in combination with ribavirin. ② Lamivudine: It is a synthetic dideoxycytidine nucleoside drug with anti-HBV effect. Oral administration of lamivudine can significantly reduce serum HBV-DNA levels, and the HBV-DNA negative conversion rate reaches more than 90% after 12 weeks of medication. Long-term use of the drug can reduce ALT and improve liver inflammation, but the HBeAg negative conversion rate is only 16% to 18%. HBV mutations may occur after treatment for more than 6 months, but the drug can still be continued. If the side effects are mild, it can be continued for 1 to 4 years. ③Famciclovir: It is a guanosine drug with a long half-life and high intracellular concentration, which can inhibit the replication of HBV-DNA. This drug has mild side effects and can be used in combination with lamivudine, interferon, etc. to improve efficacy. ④ Other anti-disease drugs: such as acyclovir, adefovir, sodium foscarnet, etc., all have a certain effect in inhibiting HBV.

3. Immunomodulators

Commonly used ones are: ① Thymosin α1 has a bidirectional immunoregulatory effect and can restore the immune function of patients with primary and secondary immunodeficiency. ② Thymosin participates in the body's cellular immune response, induces the differentiation and maturation of T lymphocytes, amplifies the response of T cells to antigens, and regulates the balance of T cell subpopulations. ③Immune RNA can induce interferon in the body and enhance the body's immune function.

4. Guided treatment

New immunotherapies (such as DNA vaccine immune complex therapy, etc.) and gene therapies (antisense nucleic acid therapy and transgenic therapy) are under research.

5. Liver protection drugs

Liver protecting drugs: ① Hepatocyte growth factor promotes liver cell regeneration, has a protective effect on liver cell damage, and can regulate the body's immune function and anti-fibrosis effects. ② Silybin has the function of protecting and stabilizing liver cell membranes. ③ Diammonium glycyrrhizinate has strong anti-inflammatory, cell membrane protection and liver function improvement effects. It is suitable for chronic persistent hepatitis and chronic active hepatitis accompanied by elevated alanine aminotransferase. ④ Adenosylmethionine supplementation with exogenous adenosylmethionine can promote the disappearance of jaundice and the recovery of liver function.

6. Traditional Chinese Medicine

Syndrome differentiation and treatment has a good effect on improving symptoms and liver function, such as Artemisia capillaris, Gardenia jasminoides, Paeonia lactiflora, Salvia miltiorrhiza, etc.