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RESEARCH PRODUCT
Chronic hepatitis B: Do we know everything or is there still something to learn?
V. Di Marcosubject
Hepatitis B virusHBsAgCirrhosisHepatologybusiness.industryGastroenterologyvirus diseasesmedicine.diseasemedicine.disease_causedigestive system diseasesLiver diseaseViral replicationHBeAgHepatocellular carcinomaImmunologymedicinebusinessViral loaddescription
Chronic hepatitis B is a dynamic process with different phases. The progression of liver damage is related to time of infection, linked to the persistence of viral replication, and based on the virus–host interaction. [1]. The course of liver disease can be modified by virological events related to the kinetics of HBV replication and influenced by the host immune system. Knowledge of the natural history of HBV infection and of its viral replication mechanisms suggest the treatment end points and guide the choice of antiviral drugs [2–4]. The key points for the management of chronic hepatitis Ba re: Evaluation of viral status (HBeAg positive or HBeAg negative), staging of liver disease (chronic inactive carrier, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, HCC) and viral load (serum HBV-DNA by quantitative PCR assay). Definition of clinical outcomes (development of cirrhosis, liver decompensation and HCC) and the risk factors associated with the progression of liver disease. Choice of “surrogate” markers (HBeAg seroconversion, HBsAg clearance, serum HBV-DNA suppression, ALT level) and their correlation with “true” clinical outcomes.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-11-01 | Digestive and Liver Disease Supplements |