The management and treatment of chronic hepatitis B in Korean children.
10.3345/kjp.2007.50.9.823
- Author:
Byung Ho CHOE
1
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. bhchoi@knu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Chronic Hepatitis B;
Management;
Treatment;
Interferon;
Lamivudine;
Children
- MeSH:
Child*;
Hepatitis B;
Hepatitis B e Antigens;
Hepatitis B virus;
Hepatitis B, Chronic*;
Hepatitis, Chronic*;
Humans;
Interferons;
Lamivudine;
Reproduction;
Vaccination
- From:Korean Journal of Pediatrics
2007;50(9):823-834
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Interferon (IFN) alpha has been the first line therapy of chronic hepatitis B in children, but HBeAg seroconversion occurred in 26% of treated children compared to 11% of controls in multinational randomized controlled study. Recently, lamivudine was shown to be a potent inhibitor of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reproduction both in HBeAg positive and in HBeAg negative (the pre-core mutant form) chronic hepatitis in randomized studies worldwide. Lamivudine therapy led to considerable improvement in the seroconversion rate of HBeAg in children with chronic hepatitis B, though long-term therapy resulted in the expansion of lamivudine-resistant mutant viruses. Combination therapy with lamivudine plus alpha-IFN does not seem to improve HBe Ag seroconversion. Above all, the most effective way to prevent hepatitis B is universal HBV vaccination.
