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Chronic hepatitis B: treatment alert
Author(s) -
Ting Tsung Chang,
Hua Zhuang,
Jidong Jia,
Nancy Leung,
R Guan,
S. M. Wasim Jafri,
Laurentius M. Adrianto Lesmana,
Yun Fan Liaw,
Stephen Locarnini,
Masao Omata,
José D. Sollano,
Dong Jin Suh,
Varocha Mahachai,
Pham Hoang Phiet,
Shiv Kumar Sarin,
Guangbi Yao,
Seung Kew Yoon
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2006.01374.x
Subject(s) - entecavir , lamivudine , adefovir , medicine , hepatitis b , pegylated interferon , chronic hepatitis , family medicine , virology , virus , ribavirin
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a serious global health concern, particularly in the Asia‐Pacific region. New information on the clinical management of CHB is emerging rapidly, requiring that physicians be alerted to updated treatment recommendations. The ACT‐HBV Asia‐Pacific Steering Committee members, composed of experts in hepatitis B from throughout the Asia‐Pacific region, reviewed and discussed new clinical data as reported in the literature or presented at recent international congresses, and recommended that physicians be alerted to updated treatment recommendations. Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐positive patients with HBV DNA levels of ≥20 000 IU/ml (≥10 5 copies/ml) and elevated alanine aminotransferase levels should be considered for treatment. It is suggested that HBV DNA≥2000 IU/ml (≥10 4 copies/ml) is the more appropriate threshold for the treatment of HBeAg‐negative patients. Lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, interferon α‐2b, thymosin α‐1, and, most recently, entecavir, and pegylated interferon α‐2a are licensed for the management of CHB. The treatment recommendations from the 2005 Asian‐Pacific Consensus Statement on the Management of Chronic Hepatitis B have been updated to incorporate these new therapeutic options. A summary of treatment recommendations for special patient populations is also included.