Current Hepatology Reports

, Volume 16, Issue 2, pp 81–89 | Cite as

Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Children

Hepatitis B (J Lim, Section Editor)
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Part of the following topical collections:
  1. Topical Collection on Hepatitis B

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Management of chronic hepatitis B infection poses significant challenges for pediatric providers. Determination of who and when to treat can be difficult as long-term complications such as cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma should be prevented while minimizing the risk of antiviral resistance.

Recent Findings

Many pediatric patients with chronic HBV will achieve natural loss of the HBeAg. Current regimens may be helpful in the setting of active hepatitis with a goal of viral suppression. Even in the rare case of HBsAg loss, viral DNA remains within hepatocytes where it can reactivate. Future treatment regimens being investigated target multiple aspects of the HBV life cycle to improve treatment efficacy.

Summary

Current management strategies involve close monitoring of patients with selective treatment only, so as to limit resistant strains. Future treatments with a variety of therapeutic targets will likely improve and potentially provide a virological cure for chronic HBV infection.

Keywords

Chronic hepatitis B Antiviral therapy Hepatitis B vaccine Vertical transmission 
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Notes

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

Danielle Wendel declares no potential conflict of interest.

Karen F. Murray reports grants from Gilead and other from Merck outside the submitted work.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Childrens HospitalSeattleUSA

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