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Pre-S Deletion and Complex Mutations of Hepatitis B Virus Related to Advanced Liver Disease in HBeAg-Negative Patients

Genetic variability of hepatitis B virus and response to antiviral treatments: Searching for a bigger picture

Most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with cirrhosis related to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Changes in the time trends of HCC and most variations in its age-, sex-, and race-specific rates among different regions are likely to be related to differences in hepatitis viruses that are most prevalent in a population, the timing of their spread, and the ages of the individuals the viruses infect. Environmental, host genetic, and viral factors can affect the risk of HCC in individuals with HBV or HCV infection. This review summarizes the risk factors for HCC among HBV- or HCV-infected individuals, based on findings from epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses, as well as determinants of patient outcome and the HCC disease burden, globally and in the United States.

HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B: From obscurity to prominence

Management of patients with hepatitis B virus-induced cirrhosis

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and core promoter variant

A new role for an old marker, HBsAg

Natural history of chronic hepatitis B in Euro-Mediterranean and African Countries

Viral Hepatitis in Liver Transplantation

Clinical utility in quantifying serum HBV DNA levels using PCR assays

RNA interference-mediated control of hepatitis B virus and emergence of resistant mutant

Hepatitis viruses and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection: pathogenisis and treatment

Lamivudine Plus Low-Dose Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin to Prevent Recurrent Hepatitis B Following Liver Transplantation

Treatment options for chronic hepatitis B not responding to interferon

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections pose a growing challenge to health care systems. Although chronic HCV infection begins as an asymptomatic condition with few short-term effects, it can progress to cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and death. The rate of new HCV infections is decreasing, yet the number of infected people with complications of the disease is increasing. In the United States, people born between 1945 and 1964 (baby boomers) are developing more complications of infection. Men and African Americans have a higher prevalence of HCV infection. Progression of fibrosis can be accelerated by factors such as older age, duration of HCV infection, sex, and alcohol intake. Furthermore, insulin resistance can cause hepatic steatosis and is associated with fibrosis progression and inflammation. If more effective therapies are not adopted for HCV, more than 1 million patients could develop HCV-related cirrhosis, hepatic decompensation, or HCC by 2020, which will impact the US health care system. It is important to recognize the impact of HCV on liver disease progression and apply new therapeutic strategies.