title: What evidence exists to support antiviral treatment in children with chronic hepatitis B?
abstract: Many questions are unanswered on the optimal management of chronically HBV-infected children. Chronic hepatitis B is generally a mild disease in children; however, response to therapy is partial and limited to specific subgroups, and available drugs have no proven advantage on long-term course of disease versus no treatment, and are hampered by numerous limitations. Studies on the natural history of chronic hepatitis B and the long-term results of the therapeutic schedules adopted so far should be critically appraised. A balance between the potential benefits of the treatment and its side effects, and the spontaneous course of the disease left untreated should be made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tufano
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Giagnorio
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Spagnuolo
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannattasio
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D019468:Disease Management; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019259:Lamivudine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a