Treatment of chronic hepatitis B / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

Despite the introduction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine for over 20 years now, HBV infection remains an important health problem. Antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B has dramatically changed over the last decade. A variety of therapeutic options are now available for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B infection, including four nucleos (t) ide analogues (i.e lamivudine, adefovir, entecavir and clevudine), along with standard and pegylated interferon. Newer oral nucleos (t) ide analogues that include tenofovir, emtricitabine and telbivudine are soon likely to be approved in Korea. Given the wide array of choices and the complex nature of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection, selection of the appropriate therapeutic agent can be challenging for clinicians. To help guide clinicians in treating patients with CHB, the Korean Association for the Study of the Liver published a guideline in 2004, which was subsequently revised in 2007 on the basis of new developments in the field. This review includes the range of treatment options and criteria for determining when and how to most effectively intervene with antiviral therapy for chronically infected patients with HBV.