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©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2009; 15(12): 1530-1531
Published online Mar 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1530
Published online Mar 28, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.1530
DNA-guided hepatitis B treatment: Viral load is insufficient with few exceptions
Pankaj Jain, Consultant Gastroenterology, Apollo Modi Hospital, Swami vivekanand nagar, Kota-324010, Rajasthan, India
Author contributions: Jain P reviewed, analyzed and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Pankaj Jain, MD, DM, Consultant Gastroenterology, Apollo Modi Hospital, Swami vivekanand nagar, Kota-324010, Rajasthan, India. panj2007@rediffmail.com
Telephone: +91-744-2473501
Fax: +91-744-2473500
Received: February 3, 2009
Revised: February 27, 2009
Accepted: March 4, 2009
Published online: March 28, 2009
Revised: February 27, 2009
Accepted: March 4, 2009
Published online: March 28, 2009
Abstract
In DNA-guided hepatitis B treatment, viral load is insufficient, and requires other viral markers for treatment of hepatitis B patients as in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B, end-stage renal disease on dialysis, human immunodeficiency virus co-infected patients. There are exceptions to this rule: a residual level hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA at 24 wk predicts beneficial outcome and reduced resistance at 1 year. The genotypic viral resistance to antiviral agents and occult HBV infection can be determined by HBV-DNA levels.
Keywords: DNA; Hepatitis B; Viral load