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Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Children

  • Hepatitis B (J Lim, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Hepatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Childrens Hospital, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, PO Box 5371/OB.9.643, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Danielle Wendel & Karen F. Murray

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  1. Danielle Wendel
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  2. Karen F. Murray
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Correspondence to Danielle Wendel.

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Danielle Wendel declares no potential conflict of interest.

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

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

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Hepatitis B

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Wendel, D., Murray, K.F. Management of Chronic Hepatitis B in Children. Curr Hepatology Rep 16, 81–89 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-017-0338-x

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