Korean J Med.  2009 Sep;77(3):265-274.

Treatment of chronic hepatitis B

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea.

Abstract

Despite the introduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine for over 20 years now, HBV infection remains an important health problem. Antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B has dramatically changed over the last decade. A variety of therapeutic options are now available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection, including four nucleos (t) ide analogues (i.e lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and clevudine), along with standard and pegylated interferon. Newer oral nucleos (t) ide analogues that include tenofovir, emtricitabine and telbivudine are soon likely to be approved in Korea. Given the wide array of choices and the complex nature of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, selection of the appropriate therapeutic agent can be challenging for clinicians. To help guide clinicians in treating patients with CHB, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver published a guideline in 2004, which was subsequently revised in 2007 on the basis of new developments in the field. This review includes the range of treatment options and criteria for determining when and how to most effectively intervene with antiviral therapy for chronically infected patients with HBV.

Keyword

Hepatitis B virus; Guidelines; Treatment; Antiviral agents; Drug resistance

MeSH Terms

Adenine
Antiviral Agents
Deoxycytidine
Drug Resistance
Guanine
Hepatitis B virus
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Interferons
Korea
Lamivudine
Liver
Organophosphonates
Thymidine
Emtricitabine
Tenofovir
Adenine
Antiviral Agents
Deoxycytidine
Guanine
Interferons
Lamivudine
Organophosphonates
Thymidine
Full Text Links
  • KJM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr