https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hep.510240201

An algorithm for the grading of activity in chronic hepatitis C

The hepatitis B virus (HBV), discovered in 1966, infects more than 350 million people worldwide.1 Hepatitis B is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, accounting for 1 million deaths annually. Knowledge of the intricacies of viral infection and of the molecular biology of this fascinating virus has led to the successful development of a vaccine and to treatment sometimes capable of eradicating chronic infection. This review addresses many aspects of HBV infection, including the role of the immune system in determining the outcome of clinical infection, recent developments in molecular studies of the virus, and new . . .

Hepatitis B virus infection.

https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1053/jhep.2001.29401

Chronic hepatitis B

https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/hep.23190

Chronic hepatitis B: Update 2009

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health problem, with 2 billion people infected worldwide, and 350 million suffering from chronic HBV infection. The 10th leading cause of death worldwide, HBV infections result in 500 000 to 1.2 million deaths per year caused by chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma; the last accounts for 320 000 deaths per year. In Western countries, the disease is relatively rare and acquired primarily in adulthood, whereas in Asia and most of Africa, chronic HBV infection is common and usually acquired perinatally or in childhood. More efficacious treatments, mass immunization programs, and safe injection techniques are essential for eliminating HBV infection and reducing global HBV-related morbidity and mortality. Safe and effective vaccines against HBV infection have been available since 1982. The implementation of mass immunization programs, which have been recommended by the World Health Organization since 1991, have dramatically decreased the incidence of HBV infection among infants, children, and adolescents in many countries. However, not all countries have adopted these recommendations and there remains a large number of persons that were infected with HBV prior to the implementation of immunization programs. Antiviral treatment is the only way to reduce morbidity and mortality from chronic HBV infection. Conventional interferon alfa and lamivudine have been the primary treatments to date. Conventional interferon alfa produces a durable response in a moderate proportion of patients but has undesirable side-effects and must be administered subcutaneously three times per week. Lamivudine also produces a response in a modest proportion of patients and causes few side-effects. However, prolonged treatment is often necessary to prevent relapse on cessation of therapy, and continuous treatment can lead to the development of lamivudine resistance. Promising emerging new treatments include adefovir, entecavir and peginterferon alfa-2a (40 kDa).

Hepatitis B virus epidemiology, disease burden, treatment, and current and emerging prevention and control measures

Background and Methods. Chronic hepatitis B is a common and often progressive liver disorder for which there is no accepted therapy. To assess the efficacy of treatment with interferon, we randomly assigned patients with chronic hepatitis B to one of the following regimens: prednisone for 6 weeks followed by 5 million units of recombinant interferon alfa-2b daily for 16 weeks; placebo followed by 5 million units of interferon daily for 16 weeks; placebo followed by 1 million units of interferon daily for 16 weeks; or observation with no treatment. Results. Hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B viral DNA disappeared from serum significantly more often in the patients given prednisone plus interferon (16 of 44 patients, or 36 percent) or 5 million units of interferon alone (15 of 41; 37 percent) than in the untreated controls (3 of 43; 7 percent; P<0.001); the difference between those given 1 million units of interferon (7 of 41; 17 percent) and the controls was not significant. The strongest indep...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM199008023230503

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Interferon Alfa-2b Alone and after Prednisone Withdrawal for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

Pathological diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C: A multicenter comparative study with chronic hepatitis B

https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/0016-5085(79)90289-0/pdf

John A. Payne

Papers

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Interferon Alfa-2b Alone and after Prednisone Withdrawal for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

Pathological diagnosis of chronic hepatitis C: A multicenter comparative study with chronic hepatitis B

Hemorrhage from esophageal varices after placement of the LeVeen shunt.