title: Hepatitis B infection in China.
abstract: Chronic HBV infection is a serious health threat in the Asian-Pacific region. The introduction of lamivudine has greatly improved the hope of these patients and is undoubtly a milestone in the management of chronic HBV infection. The combination of lamivudine with another nucleotide or nucleoside analogue or immunomodulatory agent to improve its therapeutic efficacy further must be investigated. Also, the use of lamivudine to prevent HBV reactivation on withdrawal of immunosuppressive therapy should be explored.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, SAR, China. GKKLau@hkstar.com
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D015075:2-Aminopurine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D000077595:Famciclovir; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063065:Organophosphonates; D013947:Thymosin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D063065:Organophosphonates; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D019259:Lamivudine; D015075:2-Aminopurine; D013947:Thymosin; D000068679:Emtricitabine; D000225:Adenine; D000077595:Famciclovir; C106812:adefovir dipivoxil