Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Since the release of amantadine in 1966, other agents designed to fight a diverse range of viral infections have been released. Part I of this two-part article focuses on agents used to manage hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, and herpes infections. In patients with chronic hepatitis B, interferon alfa-2b or lamivudine is the treatment of choice. Pegylated interferon alfa-2a or -2b, along with ribavirin, is standard treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C. Although treatment of cytomegalovirus infections generally is supportive, there have been reports of severely ill patients who improved after receiving ganciclovir or foscarnet. Oral antiviral agents for initial and recurrent herpes simplex virus infections have been shown to shorten the duration of lesions. Treatment of herpes zoster infections with antiviral drugs shortens the course of infection and decreases symptoms. Studies have shown that antiviral treatment can prevent prolonged post-herpetic neuralgia, although this use remains controversial.
 ...
PMID:Antiviral drugs in the immunocompetent host: part I. Treatment of hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, and herpes infections. 1261 29

The aim of five years (2000-2005) study was to investigate the peculiarities of Herpes Zoster in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. For this purpose we have investigated the clinical course of Herpes Zoster, disease duration, complications of disease, as in acute phase as well as postherpetic neuralgia in 74 HIV positive (1st group) and 74 HIV negative (2nd group) groups of patients. In both group of patients we have studied the prevalence of the following complications: 1. Acute complications of Herpes Zoster: a) Neurological: motor neuropathy, cranial neuritis, meningoencephalitis, transverse myelitis. b) Ophthalmic: keratitis, iritis, retinitis, visual impairment c) Cutaneous: bacterial superinfection, scarring, disfigurement. d) Visceral: pneumonitis, hepatitis. e) Multidermatomal. 2. The complications of after resolution of infection: a) Postherpetic neuralgia and various duration of pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia such as : < month, 1-6 months, 6-12 months and >1 year durations. b) Recurrent herpes zoster. Herpes Zoster infection was diagnosed based on clinical symptoms and by detection of VZV specific IgM and IgG by ELISA. HIV infection was diagnosed by ELISA method and was confirmed by Western Blot. We found that Herpes Zoster may develop as in HIV positive as well as HIV negative population. Study showed that severe cases of disease (Herpes Zoster), long duration and rate of complications are much higher in HIV/AIDS than in HIV negative group patients. Rate of hospitalization is also higher in HIV/AIDS patients with Herpes Zoster than in HIV negative patients with Herpes Zoster. Frequency of recurrent Herpes Zoster is much higher in HIV/AIDS patients than in HIV negative patients. The postherpetic neuralgia is very frequent complication for both group (HIV positive and HIV negative) Herpes Zoster patients, but its duration longer in HIV/AIDS patients in comparison HIV negative group. There were no significant difference in disease severity, duration and complications among male and female patients.
 ...
PMID:Peculiarities of herpes zoster in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. 1726 87

Herpes zoster (HZ) is primarily a disease of nerve tissue but the acute and longer-term manifestations require multidisciplinary knowledge and involvement in their management. Complications may be dermatological (e.g. secondary bacterial infection), neurological (e.g. long-term pain, segmental paresis, stroke), ophthalmological (e.g. keratitis, iridocyclitis, secondary glaucoma) or visceral (e.g. pneumonia, hepatitis). The age-related increased incidence of HZ and its complications is thought to be a result of the decline in cell-mediated immunity (immunosenescence), higher incidence of comorbidities with age and social-environmental changes. Individuals who are immunocompromised as a result of disease or therapy are also at increased risk, independent of age. HZ and its complications (particularly postherpetic neuralgia) create a significant burden for the patient, carers, healthcare systems and employers. Prevention and treatment of HZ complications remain a therapeutic challenge despite recent advances. This is an overview of the multidisciplinary implications and management of HZ in which the potential contribution of vaccination to reducing the incidence HZ and its complications are also discussed.
...
PMID:Herpes zoster epidemiology, management, and disease and economic burden in Europe: a multidisciplinary perspective. 2755 30

Infection with varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella (chickenpox), which can be severe in immunocompromised individuals, infants and adults. Primary infection is followed by latency in ganglionic neurons. During this period, no virus particles are produced and no obvious neuronal damage occurs. Reactivation of the virus leads to virus replication, which causes zoster (shingles) in tissues innervated by the involved neurons, inflammation and cell death - a process that can lead to persistent radicular pain (postherpetic neuralgia). The pathogenesis of postherpetic neuralgia is unknown and it is difficult to treat. Furthermore, other zoster complications can develop, including myelitis, cranial nerve palsies, meningitis, stroke (vasculopathy), retinitis, and gastroenterological infections such as ulcers, pancreatitis and hepatitis. VZV is the only human herpesvirus for which highly effective vaccines are available. After varicella or vaccination, both wild-type and vaccine-type VZV establish latency, and long-term immunity to varicella develops. However, immunity does not protect against reactivation. Thus, two vaccines are used: one to prevent varicella and one to prevent zoster. In this Primer we discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of VZV infections, with an emphasis on the molecular events that regulate these diseases. For an illustrated summary of this Primer, visit: http://go.nature.com/14xVI1.
 ...
PMID:Varicella zoster virus infection. 2718 65