Treatment of hepatitis B virus infection: present and future

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Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jun-Jul;31(6):349-55.

[Treatment of hepatitis B virus infection: present and future.][Article in

Spanish]

Planas R, Morillas RM.

Unidad de Hepatología. Servicio de Aparato Digestivo. CIBEREHD. Universidad

Autónoma de Barcelona. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol. Badalona. Barcelona.

España. rplanas.germanstrias@....

The treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HVB) infection constitutes a

challenge in spite of the advances in the therapeutic arsenal available. At the

moment there are 4 approved antiviral drug groups: interferons, nucleoside

analogues (lamivudine, telbivudine), nucleotide analogues (adefovir- dipivoxil)

and cyclopents (entecavir), with different antiviral efficacy among them. The

primary target of the treatment is a prolonged suppression of viral replication

in order to avoid long term complications (cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma)

and increase survival. In first place we must decide when to initiate the

treatment. Secondly, which is the best therapeutic option based on the

demonstrated antiviral effectiveness, profile of security and appearance of

resistances. And finally, the duration and modification of the treatment based

on the answer to itself. The objective of this article is a practical revision

of the present management of the infection by the HVB.

PMID: 18570812 [PubMed - in process

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