antiviral therapy for hepatitis b/c virus-related cirrhosis

The necessity and feasibility of antiviral therapy in patients with liver cirrhosis have caught much attention. By summarizing the relevant guidelines/consensus statements and evidence-based medicine data in recent years, the advances in indications, strategies, drug options, and benefit/risk in antiviral therapy for hepatitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis are reviewed. The data reveal that for both HBV- and HCV-related cirrhosis, successful treatment may suppress viral replication, improve patients′ conditions, delay disease progression, prolong survival, reduce complications, and create better conditions for surgical and minimally invasive operations for hepatocellular carcinoma. Because of the good safety of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA), it is recommended that patients with HBV-related cirrhosis (including those in decompensation stage and with complications) should receive NA as soon as possible. As interferon may cause many adverse reactions, antiviral therapy for HCV-related cirrhosis becomes more difficult than that for HBV-related cirrhosis. Careful selection of indications is necessary. Standardization of the strategies for antiviral therapy is important in the treatment of liver cirrhosis.