title: Virus and Host Testing to Manage Chronic Hepatitis B.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. The past 50 years have seen rapid developments in HBV testing. Beginning from traditional serologic tests, the availability of sensitive HBV DNA assays allows a thorough understanding of the virology and natural history of chronic HBV infection. Quantification of hepatitis B surface antigen levels reflects the amount and transcriptional activities of covalently closed circular DNA in the liver and may be used to evaluate the stage of disease and guide antiviral therapy. The natural history of chronic HBV infection is also a manifestation of the interaction between the host and the virus, and recent genomic works have shed light on the host-virus relationship and may provide novel tests in the future. This review highlights recent advances in the application of HBV tests in the management of chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics Institute of Digestive Disease State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Grace Lai-Hung
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics Institute of Digestive Disease State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Vincent Wai-Sun
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics Institute of Digestive Disease State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Henry Lik-Yuen
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014773:Virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b
keywords: cirrhosis; hepatitis B e antigens; hepatitis B surface antigens; hepatocellular carcinoma; peginterferon alfa