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Chronic Hepatitis B: Current and Future Treatment Options
Author(s) -
Rivkina Anastasia,
Rybalov Sergey
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.22.9.721.34058
Subject(s) - entecavir , medicine , lamivudine , adefovir , hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis b , virology , hepatitis b virus , emtricitabine , pegylated interferon , famciclovir , nucleoside analogue , immunology , virus , chronic hepatitis , ribavirin , nucleoside , biology , biochemistry
Hepatitis B, a major viral infection that can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, is the ninth most common cause of death worldwide. Prevention of hepatitis B virus transmission is key to reducing the spread of this serious condition. Management of chronic hepatitis B requires significant knowledge of approved pharmacotherapeutic agents and their limitations. Today, agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this infection are interferon‐α‐2b and lamivudine. Newer agents are being developed and hold promise: adefovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, lobucavir, entecavir, emtricitabine, L‐deoxythymidine, clevudine, a therapeutic vaccine, and thymosin α‐1. Therapeutic options for managing hepatitis infection after liver transplantation are also evolving. These include hepatitis B immunoglobulin and nucleoside analogues.