title: Treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection-2017.
abstract: Since the registration of the first effective nucleoside analogue against the hepatitis B virus almost two decades ago, major progress has been made in the management of chronic hepatitis B infection. However, hepatitis B-related morbidity and mortality remain a major global health threat. This is partly due to the escalating costs and the decrease in compliance related to the need for prolonged therapy for most patients who cannot be "cured". New biomarkers such as quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen might help to determine if hepatitis B e antigen negative patients can be taken off nucleos(t)ide analogues. On the other hand, novel compounds that target the viral life cycle or modulate host immune response are in the pipeline. In the next few years, one should expect breakthrough advancement to be made leading to a "cure" for patients with chronic hepatitis B infection by inducing hepatitis surface antigen loss with or without the development of the hepatitis B surface antibody. In addition, attention and necessary actions should also be taken in patients with hepatitis B infection who are being treated with immunosuppressive therapy and direct anti-viral (DAAs) agents for hepatitis C infection to prevent hepatitis from hepatitis B reactivation.
authors.affiliation: Beijing 302-Hong Kong Humanity and Health Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing, China.|Second Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis and Treatment Center, 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Beijing 302-Hong Kong Humanity and Health Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing, China.|Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Humanity and Health Medical Centre, Hong Kong, SAR, China.|State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing 302-Hong Kong Humanity and Health Hepatitis C Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing, China.|Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Humanity and Health Medical Centre, Hong Kong, SAR, China.|Institute of Translational Hepatology, 302 Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006147:Guanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068698:Tenofovir / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; C413685:entecavir; D006147:Guanine; D000068698:Tenofovir
keywords: hepatitis B; hepatitis B reactivation; management; new therapy