Prevention of hepatitis B.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes life-threatening liver disease. It is transmitted through a horizontal route or a mother-to-infant route, and the latter is the major route in endemic areas. Prevention of HBV infection by immunization is the best way to eliminate HBV-related diseases. The HBV vaccine is the first human vaccine using a viral antigen from infected persons, which is safe and effective. Either passive immunization by hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) or active immunization by HBV vaccine is effective, and a combination of both yields the best efficacy in preventing HBV infection. The impact of universal HBV immunization is huge, with 90%-95% effectiveness in preventing chronic HBV infection. It is the first cancer preventive vaccine with a protective efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of ∼ 70%. Nevertheless, further effort is still needed to avoid vaccine failure and to increase the global coverage rate.
Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10016, Taiwan Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10016, Taiwan.
Mei-Hwei
MH
Chang
Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10016, Taiwan Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10016, Taiwan Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Nankang 11529, Taiwan.
Ding-Shinn
DS
Chen
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C045213:hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin