title: The HBV Drugs Work: Now What?
abstract: Chemotherapeutic agents for Hepatitis B virus (HBV) suppression work, but only when administered to the patient. They do not appear to promote durable, long-term immunological control. After 3 years of effective anti-HBV therapy, a small percentage of patients maintained good control, manifest by controlled serum liver enzymes, low-level HBV-DNA, and controlled HBsAg concentrations. However, this did not occur in the majority of patients. We need a better understanding of the defects in HBV immunity and how to induce effective reconstitution that will maintain viral suppression, albeit either through innate or adaptive immunity.
authors: Professor of Surgery and Internal Medicine, John S. Najarian Clinical Chair Head Division of Transplantation, Executive Medical Director Solid Organ Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
authors: Timothy L
authors: TL
authors: Pruett
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens