Pharmacotherapy of hepatitis B infection: a brief review.

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus can lead to liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment options include interferons and antiviral drugs. The interferons have immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and antiviral effects. Nucleoside analogs, such as entecavir, lamivudine and telbivudine, and neucleotide analogs, such as adefovir and tenofovir, exhibit antiviral effects by inhibiting viral replication. Treatment is directed at suppressing viral replication and halting the progression of disease.