Hepatitis B: diagnosis and management

Hubert E. Blum; Hubert E. Blum

doi:10.3934/medsci.2021001

AIMS Medical Science

2021, Volume 8, Issue 1: 1-10. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2021001

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Hepatitis B: diagnosis and management

Hubert E. Blum ^,

Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany

Received: 03 November 2020 Accepted: 30 December 2020 Published: 06 January 2021

Globally, hepatitis B virus infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases, apart from hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol abuse. The structure and genetic organization of HBV as well as the natural course and global burden of HBV infection are known in great detail. These advances have been successfully translated into important clinical applications, such as the sensitive and specific diagnosis, therapy and prevention of the hepatitis B virus-associated liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. While it is possible to successfully prevent hepatitis B by vaccination, treatment of chronic HBV infection is more difficult than hepatitis C virus infection because it rarely eliminates the virus and makes an indefinite therapy necessary in most cases. Therefore, the World Health Organization goal of hepatitis B virus elimination by 2030 poses a major challenge to the medical community as well as to the health care authorities and requires their commitment to coordinated global interventions.
- hepatitis delta virus,
- liver cirrhosis,
- hepatocellular carcinoma,
- antiviral therapy,
- preventive measures,
- vaccination
Citation: Hubert E. Blum. Hepatitis B: diagnosis and management[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2021, 8(1): 1-10. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2021001

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Abstract

Globally, hepatitis B virus infection is one of the major causes of chronic liver diseases, apart from hepatitis C virus infection and alcohol abuse. The structure and genetic organization of HBV as well as the natural course and global burden of HBV infection are known in great detail. These advances have been successfully translated into important clinical applications, such as the sensitive and specific diagnosis, therapy and prevention of the hepatitis B virus-associated liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. While it is possible to successfully prevent hepatitis B by vaccination, treatment of chronic HBV infection is more difficult than hepatitis C virus infection because it rarely eliminates the virus and makes an indefinite therapy necessary in most cases. Therefore, the World Health Organization goal of hepatitis B virus elimination by 2030 poses a major challenge to the medical community as well as to the health care authorities and requires their commitment to coordinated global interventions.

Acknowledgments

The excellent secretarial support of Mrs. Mariette Gutgsell and Mrs. Katharina Bigot is gratefully acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

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