Antiviral therapy: Analysis of long-term efficacy and safety

Despite the adoption of universal vaccination in many countries, chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a global problem. Morbidity and mortality from this infection, although possibly declining, remains significant. Fortunately, our treatment armamentarium has expanded exponentially in the past decade. Newer antiviral agents are not only effective against HBV infection, but they also confer a lower risk for virologic resistance than the first-generation oral nucleoside, lamivudine. In this article, the long-term efficacy and safety of available antiviral therapy in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B are reviewed, and differences in drug potencies, side-effect profiles, and risks of development of virologic resistance are discussed to provide guidance for optimal choices for long-term antiviral therapy. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.