title: Antiviral drugs in the prophylaxis of HBV infection.
abstract: Reactivation of hepatitis B infection (HBV) is known to occur in liver graft recipients and in chronic carriers of the surface antigen of HBV who receive immunosuppressive therapy. The use of hepatitis B immune globulin alone or in combination with antiviral agents such as lamivudine, adefovir, tenofovir, entecavir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, as prophylaxis in HBV liver transplants, has been well documented. In terms of HBV positive carriers undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, the preemptive use of nucleoside or nucleotide analogues seems to be effective. Monotherapy or combination of antiviral drugs, as well as the optimal duration of HBV prophylaxis, is to be determined.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Agia Olga General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masgala
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiodras
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonovas
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Sitaras
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D014775:Virus Activation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents