For chronic hepatitis B treatment two drugs are used now – interferon alpha (IFN alpha) and lamivudin. Probably in a short time adefovir dipivoxil will be available. Standard recent treatment of chronic hepatitis C is pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin .Chronic hepatitis B and C is common in old population and we should assess the treatment profit against treatment risks. This remark is not valid for chronic hepatitis B treatment by lamivudin or adefovir dipivoxil for its excellent tolerance by all patients. Problems are only with treatment IFN alpha both forms, standard, applicable three times a week and pegylated, applicable once a week as well, for common side effects followed by serious health problems in some cases or even life threatening. The decision for upper age limit for treatment by IFN alpha is difficult and sensitive. The most important is an assessment of biological but not calendar age of the patient. This age limit in practise is between 65–70 years mostly for increasing frequency of cardiac diseases with advanced age and its clinical manifestation during IFN alpha and ribavirin treatment.

        Key words: viral hepatitis B – viral hepatitis C – interferon alpha – pegylated interpheron – ribavirin – lamivudin – adefovir dipivoxil – side effects of treatment – treatment in advanced age