Hepatitis B: 50 years after the discovery of Australia antigen.
It is an honour to be invited to recount the progress in our understanding and management of hepatitis B 50 years after the discovery of Australia antigen (Au Ag). During this half century, we have gone from identifying the causative agent--hepatitis B virus (HBV), understanding its biology and the disease it causes, to having vaccines that can prevent HBV infection and antiviral therapy that can suppress HBV replication and prevent progression of HBV-related liver disease. As a result of the progress, prevalence of HBV infection and morbidity and mortality from chronic HBV infection has declined.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
A Suk-Fong
AS
Lok
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines
antiviral treatment; cirrhosis; hepatitis B surface antigen; hepatocellular carcinoma; vaccine