Abstract
Hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection is one of the most important infections worldwide and is mainly associated with the risk of chronic hepatitis B that progresses into the stage of advance fibrosis or cirrhosis, often decompensating with the resulting development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Most advanced countries currently experience declining incidence rates of new cases (infections) with HBV as a result of vaccination.
Drugs used to treat the condition differ in their indications (mainly IFN vs. antiviral drugs), their efficacy and resistance development. Treatment with entecavir is efficacious, effective, very safe and results in significantly reduced viraemia (or the virus becoming negative) within the first 52 weeks of treatment that should be continued for at least another 5 years.
Resistance development is rare, and patients resistant to lamivudine may be effectively treated with higher entecavir doses.