慢性复制型(HBeAg阳性)乙型肝炎一般在5年内约15％的病人发展成肝硬化,其发病率与病死率甚高。除进行性肝脏功能丧失外,并且出现并发症门脉高压,每年约有1.2％～4.2％的肝硬化患者发展成肝细胞性肝癌。因此慢性乙型肝炎是世界上除慢性丙型肝炎外肝细胞性肝癌最常见的原因。 预防措施例如针对乙型肝炎病毒的全民免疫接种尚未奏效之前,仍然迫切需要对慢性乙型肝炎有效的治疗药物。过去在德国唯一被批准的药物是α-干扰素 Chronic replication (HBeAg-positive) Hepatitis B generally develops cirrhosis in about 15% of patients over a period of 5 years, with a high morbidity and mortality. In addition to progressive loss of liver function, and complications of portal hypertension, about 1.2% ~ 4.2% of cirrhotic patients develop hepatocellular carcinoma each year. Therefore, chronic hepatitis B is the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in the world except chronic hepatitis C. Preventive measures Even before universal immunization against the hepatitis B virus has been successful, there remains an urgent need for therapies that are effective against chronic hepatitis B. The only drug approved in Germany in the past was a-interferon