Molecular pathogenesis of viral hepatitis

The global burden of chronic liver disease caused by persistent infection w ith hepatitis B and C viruses has meant the urgent development of therapeut ic strategies designed to control active replication and therefore prevent subsequent clinical sequelae. Advances in these therapeutic strategies are now clearly happening, mainly as a consequence of a better understanding of the viral life cycle and the unique pathogenesis of each disease. Further progress should continue as further insights into the virus-cell relationsh ip are derived, which will sharpen attention on specific viral targets as w ell as shift and enhance host cytokine responses. (C) 2000 Blackwell Scienc e Asia Pty Ltd.