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Current treatment of chronic HBV infection: A European perspective

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Abstract

Chronic hepatitis B infection remains a relatively common disease in European hepatology and gastroenterology practice. Current treatment guidelines in Europe discuss pegylated interferon-α or nucleoside analogues in treating chronic hepatitis B. The indications and the necessity for treatment are based mainly on the combination of three criteria: serum hepatitis B virus DNA concentrations, serum aminotransferase levels, and histologic grade and stage. The advent of potent nucleoside analogues with low rates of resistance has potentially simplified treatment. The pipeline of new agents to treat hepatitis B remains restricted, and cross-resistance is shared by several nucleosides. Thus, the guidelines emphasize the advantage and necessity of using potent agents with low rates of resistance as optimal therapy to avoid difficult-to-treat, multidrug-resistant hepatitis B.

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  1. University College London Medical School and Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, Hampstead, London, NW3 2QG, UK

    Geoffrey Dusheiko

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  1. Geoffrey Dusheiko
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  2. Tabinda Burney
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Correspondence to Geoffrey Dusheiko.

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Dusheiko, G., Burney, T. Current treatment of chronic HBV infection: A European perspective. Curr hepatitis rep 8, 141–147 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-009-0020-z

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