Considerations in FIrst-Line Therapies for Treatment-Naive Chronic Hepatitis B

Abstract

The treatment of chronic Hepatitis B Virus (CHBV) infection has evolved considerably during the last decade.  As the number of potential therapies has grown, so has the relative complexity of managing the disease.  There are now five oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogues and two injectable versions of interferon that are approved for the treatment of CHBV.  Of these, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) now recommends only entecavir, tenofovir, and pegylated interferon as first-line options for treatment-naïve individuals.^1,2  Each has some potential advantages and disadvantages that should be weighed prior to making a choice for what is generally long-term therapy.