Management of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: A Consensus Report of the Study Group for Viral Hepatitis of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Study Group for Viral Hepatitis of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases convened a meeting to develop a consensus report on management of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, a global public health problem, affecting more than 400 million people worldwide. Relevant literature and international guidelines were reviewed, and recommendations agreed are presented at the end of each section such as epidemiology and natural history of HBV infection, economic burden of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), diagnosis of acute hepatitis B (AHB) and CHB, differentiation of AHB from acute exacerbation of CHB, treatment of CHB, evaluation of response to treatment and longterm outcomes in HBeAg-positive and negative patients, antiviral resistance and its follow-up, and prevention of HBV infection. Examples of some selected recommendations are as follows: [1] The selection of a highly potent drug such as entecavir or tenofovir with a high genetic barrier to resistance as a first line therapy provides the best approach of achieving the goals of long-term treatment. [2] Antiviral drugs with a low genetic barrier to resistance such as lamivudine or telbivudine should not be among the first choices. [3] Pegylated interferon a should be used in selected patient groups. [4] Analysis of HBV drug resistance gene mutation should be a part of managing clinical treatment.