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Medical Microbiology and Immunology
Published in: Medical Microbiology and Immunology 1/2015

01-02-2015 | Review

Natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection

Authors: Katrin Busch, Robert Thimme

Published in: Medical Microbiology and Immunology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Hepatitis B virus infection represents a major global health problem. Currently, there are more than 240 million chronically infected people worldwide. The development of chronic hepatitis B virus-mediated liver disease may lead to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, the discovery of the viral entry receptor sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide has facilitated new approaches for a better understanding of viral physiopathology. Hopefully, these novel insights may give rise to the development of more effective antiviral therapy concepts during the next years. In this review, we will discuss the natural history of hepatitis B virus infection including the viral biology, the clinical course of infection and the role of the immune response.
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Metadata
Title
Natural history of chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors
Katrin Busch
Robert Thimme
Publication date
01-02-2015
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Medical Microbiology and Immunology / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0300-8584
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1831
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-014-0369-7

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