Chronic hepatitis B: current and future treatment options.
Hepatitis B, a major viral infection that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, is the ninth most common cause of death worldwide. Prevention of hepatitis B virus transmission is key to reducing the spread of this serious condition. Management of chronic hepatitis B requires significant knowledge of approved pharmacotherapeutic agents and their limitations. Today, agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this infection are interferon-alpha-2b and lamivudine. Newer agents are being developed and hold promise: adefovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, lobucavir, entecavir, emtricitabine, L-deoxythymidine, clevudine, a therapeutic vaccine, and thymosin alpha-1. Therapeutic options for managing hepatitis infection after liver transplantation are also evolving. These include hepatitis B immunoglobulin and nucleoside analogues.
Rivkina
Anastasia
A
Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, Long Island University, Brooklyn, New York, USA. arivkina@liu.edu
Rybalov
Sergey
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D008297:Male
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents