title: Novel insights into immunotherapy for hepatitis B patients.
abstract: The possible use of immunotherapy for hepatitis B has emerged for two major reasons: (1) chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is an immune-mediated pathological condition, and (2) commercially available antiviral drugs are of limited efficacy. Although various immunomodulatory agents have been used to treat patients with CHB during the last three decades, there is currently no consensus among physicians and hepatologists regarding the suitability of immunotherapy for patients with CHB. However, new insights into immunotherapy for CHB have emerged; these may facilitate design of effective and tolerable immunotherapy regimens for these patients. This review provides a comprehensive overview of immunotherapy for CHB.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Sciences , Toshiba General Hospital , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Sheikh Mohammad Fazle
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Akbar
authors.affiliation: b Department of Hepatology , Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University , Dhaka , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mamun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Mahtab
authors.affiliation: c Department of Virology , Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University , Dhaka , Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Munira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.affiliation: d Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology , Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine , Toon , Japan.
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.affiliation: d Department of Gastroenterology and Metabology , Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine , Toon , Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiasa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors
keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; immune pathogenesis; immunotherapy; new insights; novel insights