Hepatitis viruses cause diffuse necro-inflammatory liver diseases. They currently present a very serious health problém. Acute and chronic forms of the diseases are the cause of significant morbidity and mortality both in our country as well as abroad. Viral hepatitis A, B, C, and E are of the greatest significance in the Czech Republic. At present, four drugs are approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B in the Czech Republic: pegylated interferon alpha-2a, standard interferon alpha, lamivudine, and adefovir dipivoxil. The standard treatment for chronic hepatitis B consists of a combination of pegylated interferon alpha-2a or alpha-2b, and ribavirin. The main task at the moment is to actively search for, and treat, those individuals with chronic hepatitis B and C before the disease reaches its advanced stage, where quality and length of life are significantly affected and the treatment options limited.

        Key words: viral hepatitis, pegylated interferon, standard interferon alpha, lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, ribavirin