Chapter 14
Treatment of Hepatitis B
Hellan K. Kwon,
Anna S.F. Lok,
Hellan K. Kwon
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAnna S.F. Lok
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorHellan K. Kwon,
Anna S.F. Lok,
Hellan K. Kwon
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorAnna S.F. Lok
University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorBook Editor(s):Howard C. Thomas BSc, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci,
Anna S.F. Lok MD,
Stephen A. Locarnini MBBS, BSc(Hons), PhD, FRCPath,
Arie J. Zuckerman MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci,
Howard C. Thomas BSc, PhD, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci
Emeritus Professor of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
Search for more papers by this authorAnna S.F. Lok MD
Alice Lohrman Andrews Research Professor in Hepatology, Director of Clinical Hepatology, Professor of Internal Medicine, Associate Chair for Clinical Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Search for more papers by this authorStephen A. Locarnini MBBS, BSc(Hons), PhD, FRCPath
Head, Research & Molecular Development, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Search for more papers by this authorArie J. Zuckerman MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMedSci
Emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology, Formerly Principal and Dean, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
Treatment of hepatitis B has evolved with seven approved drugs: five nucleos(t)ide analogs and two formulations of interferon. Antiviral therapy not only suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication but also decreases inflammation and fibrosis in the liver with resultant improvement in clinical outcome. With multiple treatment options that are efficacious and safe, the key question is which patients need immediate treatment and which patients can be monitored. In general, indications for treatment are based on activity or stage of liver disease, but viral factors such as HBV DNA levels play an increasingly important role in determining when treatment should be initiated. In this chapter, we will consider which patients will benefit from hepatitis B therapy, review the safety and efficacy of currently available treatments, and discuss management of patients with antiviral drug resistance.
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