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FOREWORD Table of Contents   
Year : 2005  |  Volume : 2  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 7-8
Foreword


Dept. of Gastroenterology, Room No. 3105, 3rd floor, Teaching Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India

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How to cite this article:
Acharya SK. Foreword. Hep B Annual 2005;2:7-8

How to cite this URL:
Acharya SK. Foreword. Hep B Annual [serial online] 2005 [cited 2024 Mar 29];2:7-8. Available from: https://www.hepatitisbannual.org/text.asp?2005/2/1/7/29370


During the last decade an enormous amount of information on HBV infection has been generated. The Asia Pacific region continues to have HBsAg carrier prevalence between 2-8%, despite introduction of HBV vaccination in many countries. During the last two decades, five drugs (Interferon g, pegylated interferon, lamivudine, adefovir and entecavir) are now available to treat HBV associated diseases. The concept of 'HBV is preventable' along with 'HBV disease is treatable' is the present mandate. Today antiviral efficacy and viral resistance are understood better and methods to detect these factors are now more accessible. The therapeutic algorithm is therefore now changing. Occult HBV infection is a newly recognized entity of relevance. In this issue of the journal, efforts have been made to provide these information to assist physicians to adopt a more rational approach in such patients.

The chapter on occult HBV infection provides insight into the mechanics and diagnostic approach of this new entity, as well as discusses the management approach. Information or the preventive aspects of HBV associated disease has rapidly expanded. Resistance to HBV vaccination and approaches to overcome these problems form the cornerstone of discussion in the chapter on vaccination.

HBV mutants are new HBV viruses with different kinetics and natural courses. They are problematic viruses because they are difficult to treat. The chapter on HBV mutants provides critical information on all these aspects which are of importance to the hepatologist.

Nucleoside analogues have provided cheaper alternative to interferons to treat HBV. However viral resistance to nucleoside analogues is emerging as a major obstacle to long term therapy with these agents. The chapter on Lamivudine and Adefovir provides substantial information on these important nucleoside analogues.

HBV associated liver cancer is another problem which has a high prevalence rate in the many parts of the world. The chapter on HCC highlights the futility of both the current screening methods and treatment options for the vast majority of HCC patients, and rightly emphasizes the need to strengthen measures to prevent HCC by reinforcing global immunization strategies against hepatitis B.

This issue should provide practicing clinicians, hepatologists and medical students a framework of knowledge which would assist them to evaluate and manage patients with hepatitis B infection. It is also hoped that those working in the field of hepatitis B will find this issue useful to update their knowledge related to aspects of hepatitis B that are not directly aligned with their research. Free access to the journal on the net should be a boon for the medical students and researchers of the developing world.

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Correspondence Address:
Subrat Kumar Acharya
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Room No. 3105, 3rd floor, Teaching Block, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029
India
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


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