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Chronic hepatitis B virus and liver fibrosis: A mathematical model.
- Source :
-
PLoS ONE . 4/10/2018, Vol. 13 Issue 4, p1-23. 23p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a liver disorder that can result in cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV infection remains a major global health problem, as it affects more 350 million people chronically and kills roughly 600,000 people annually. Drugs currently used against HBV include IFN-α that decreases viremia, inflammation and the growth of liver fibrosis, and adefovir that decreases the viral load. Each of these drugs can have severe side-effects. In the present paper, we consider the treatment of chronic HBV by a combination of IFN-α and adefovir, and raise the following question: What should be the optimal ratio between IFN-α and adefovir in order to achieve the best ‘efficacy’ under constraints on the total amount of the drugs; here the efficacy is measured by the reduction of the levels of inflammation and of fibrosis? We develop a mathematical model of HBV pathogenesis by a system of partial differential equations (PDEs) and use the model to simulate a ‘synergy map’ which addresses the above question. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *HEPATITIS B virus
*FIBROSIS
*LIVER diseases
*INTERLEUKIN-18
*DRUGS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 129011905
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195037